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A trio of Toro for turfcare excellence at Hayston

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A trio of Toro for turfcare excellence at Hayston: Under the stewardship of Head Greenkeeper Alan Brown since 2018 and with wise machinery choices, course presentation at Hayston Golf Club is the best it’s been in 50 years according to members. With a further boost from three new Toro machines that looks set to continue well into the future.

The club’s latest investment includes the Toro Greensmaster 3250-D, Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 Hybrid and Reelmaster 5610-D, chosen for their durability, comfort and long-term performance.

A trio of Toro for turfcare excellence at Hayston

A trio of Toro for turfcare excellence at Hayston

The timing is perfect as they arrive as Alan and his team of four build on recent successes by reshaping bunkers, enhancing green drainage and continuing to elevate the overall playability and aesthetics of the course.

Central to achieving these goals is the partnership with Toro and its distributor, Reesink Turfcare, says Alan. “When you’re aiming for the best results, you need the best equipment – and in turfcare, Toro is top of the class.”

Alan was already familiar with Toro’s capabilities from his previous position at Kilsyth Lennox Golf Club and was pleased to find a 20-year-old Toro rough mower still performing reliably when he joined Hayston six and a half years ago. “That speaks volumes about the durability and performance of Toro machines when they’re properly maintained,” he notes.

Speaking about the importance of proper maintenance and servicing, Alan highlights the value of Reesink’s support: “The team at Reesink are fantastic – always responsive, knowledgeable and ready to assist. They’ve helped us stay on top of servicing and keep us informed about any equipment updates.”

And best of all, the team at Hayston is enthusiastic about the new additions: “The guys really enjoy using these new mowers,” says Alan. “They’ve been working with Toro equipment for some years, so getting familiar with how they work and are maintained was second nature. Plus, the comfort is exceptional – especially the seat positioning, which makes a huge difference when you’re on the machine for long hours, day after day.”

Reflecting on the team’s achievements, Alan comments: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. The feedback from members and visitors has been overwhelmingly positive – we’ve had comments about how this is the best the course has looked in 50 years. That means a lot.”

Learn more about the ways Toro’s turfcare solutions help you elevate your course. Contact Reesink Turfcare at 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Aspen delivers a decade of clean power

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Aspen delivers a decade of clean power: From the very first demonstration, Graham Kenward of South East Forestry and Tree Services was sold on the health and safety benefits of Aspen Fuel.

More than a decade on, the firm still swears by Aspen Alkylate fuel for their suite of two-stroke equipment, delivering clean and convenient power to projects in confined spaces.

Aspen delivers a decade of clean power

Aspen delivers a decade of clean power

Founded by Graham in 1997, South East Forestry and Tree Services undertake the full breadth of tree surgery services for domestic and commercial customers across Surrey and Sussex. Powering much of that operation for the last 10 years has been Aspen Fuel. Graham takes up the story, “I learned about the product through a friend and arranged to have a demonstration of it. All I could say at the time was WOW!”

“It’s certainly not right, but as an arborist you almost just get used to getting home at the end of the day with bloodshot eyes and the smell of petrol over your clothes – particularly if you’ve been working in confined spaces. As soon as we started to use Aspen in our 2-stroke equipment, that all stopped immediately.” He continues, “Not only that but the shelf life of it is incredible. Depending on workload we might have equipment that’ll sit in the shed for two or three years untouched. If it’s got Aspen in the tank, it’ll start up at the first time of asking.”

99% cleaner than ordinary pump petrol in regards to levels of hazardous hydrocarbons, Aspen Fuel is virtually free from Ethanol, Aromatics and Benzene, bringing enhanced performance and a longer service life for all types of modern 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. Together with extending engine life and reliability, the significantly fewer harmful and toxic hydrocarbons reduce the impact your equipment has on your health and the environment.

“You can’t put a price on your health and, when I factor in the further efficiencies and convenience brought about by having the Aspen delivered in 200L drums to site, we more than offset the additional cost of using Aspen in our chainsaws and other petrol-powered hand tools.”

For more information about Aspen 2 or Aspen 4, and to find your local stockist, visit www.aspenfuel.co.uk 

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Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Mark a Milestone

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Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Mark a Milestone: Toro, in collaboration with its UK distributor Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Trust, proudly celebrates a 25-year partnership, marking one of the longest-standing formal relationships between Toro and a customer globally.

This enduring collaboration underscores a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in golf course management, helping shape the modern landscape of greenkeeping at the ‘Home of Golf’ and beyond.

Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Mark a Milestone

Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Mark a Milestone

A Legacy of Innovation

St Andrews Links has long been a symbol of golf’s heritage, tracing its roots back to the 15th century. It was here that Old Tom Morris was one of the first to revolutionise course care with many new practices including topdressing, the practice of using sand to create smooth greens and teeing grounds, now a fundamental technique worldwide. Building on this legacy, Toro has delivered cutting-edge technologies to support the evolving demands of turf management, from precision irrigation to advanced electric mowing systems.

“St Andrews Links is where tradition meets innovation,” said Amy Dahl, vice president International at The Toro Company. “For 25 years, we’ve had the privilege of supporting their dedication to excellence through trusted equipment, sustainable solutions, and shared values. This milestone represents not just a partnership, but an ongoing legacy of progress.”

James Ralley, Commercial Director at St Andrews Links Trust, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating such a significant milestone with Toro, one of our longest standing partners. Over the past 25 years, Toro has played an important role in the continued development of our greenkeeping practices, allowing us to provide world-class playing conditions across the seven courses here at St Andrews Links. This partnership is one we value greatly, and we look forward to continuing this for years to come.”

Driving Standards in Turf Management Through a Shared Commitment

Over the past two and a half decades, Toro and Reesink UK have supported the Trust with groundbreaking equipment and irrigation systems, helping it remain a benchmark for golf course quality worldwide.

Neil Coulson, CEO at St Andrews Links Trust, said: “As custodians of St Andrews Links, we have a responsibility to not only provide great playing conditions year-round, but to also manage the historic courses in a responsible and environmentally conscious way. For 25 years Toro has been a valued partner in our efforts to implement sustainable practices, particularly in the electrification of our mower fleet and the continued improvement in our irrigation systems. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together and pleased to celebrate this milestone.”

Alastair Rowell, Managing Director at Reesink UK, added: “We’re proud to play a role in this remarkable journey. This partnership exemplifies the best of what can be achieved when industry leaders come together with a long-term vision and a passion for excellence.”

Looking Ahead

As this milestone is celebrated, all three partners remain focused on what lies ahead. The collaboration between Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Trust is not just a reflection of the past 25 years—it’s a foundation for continued innovation in sustainable course management and support for the next generation of greenkeepers.

For more information, please visit www.toro.com

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AFH Groundcare Becomes a Distributor for DSV Seeds

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AFH Groundcare Becomes a Distributor for DSV Seeds: AFH Groundcare has been announced as an official distributor for DSV Seeds, offering the EuroGrass Pro range and DSV’s amenity mixtures to customers across Gloucestershire.

Founded by Tom Hughes, AFH Groundcare has grown steadily over recent years, starting from owning just a single line marker to providing a comprehensive range of services, including sports turf maintenance, lawn care, renovations, and vegetation management. Tom’s passion for delivering the best possible results for his clients led him to explore the seed market, which ultimately led to his partnership with DSV.

AFH Groundcare Becomes a Distributor for DSV Seeds

AFH Groundcare Becomes a Distributor for DSV Seeds

“I provide a lot of fertilisers and was very keen on moving into offering seed,” said Tom. “Someone mentioned to me that DSV offers a fantastic range of grass seed. The same person introduced me to Samuel Horner (Business Manager) from DSV, so we met up, had a chat, and it’s been going well ever since.”

AFH Groundcare has already seen positive feedback from customers using DSV’s EuroGrass Pro mixtures. “A sports club I work with has been using it on their football pitch, and they are very happy with the results. Even in November, it was germinating incredibly well,” Tom shared.

One of the key strengths of AFH Groundcare’s approach is its commitment to providing tailored solutions for clients of all sizes and budgets. “With grassroots clubs, everyone knows they don’t have a lot of money. I always recommend EuroGrass Pro mixtures because I know their strengths and the high-quality varieties in them. Every club is different, and I’ll always provide whatever suits their needs.”

DSV’s EuroGrass Pro range is developed for professional use and offers high-performance mixtures tailored to different requirements, including Classic, Ornamental, Shade, Sport, and Renovation blends. These carefully composed mixtures take into account factors such as soil conditions, climate, and maintenance plans, ensuring the best results for turf professionals.

Tom values the support he receives from DSV, stating, “It’s great working with DSV. If there’s ever anything I’m unsure about or need, I just make one phone call, and they’re always readily available to help. I’ve never had any issues with deliveries – everything arrives on time, and I can’t fault them at all.”

As the relationship between AFH Groundcare and DSV continues to grow, more customers will have access to top-tier seed products designed to enhance playing surfaces across the region.

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A soggy but successful Scots Turf Show

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A soggy but successful Scots Turf Show: Susan Lindsay takes a tour around the third edition of the ever growing Scots Turf Show at Hamilton Racecourse.

I walk into the grounds of Hamilton racecourse for this year’s Scots Turf Show and I am first given a voucher for £2 off food and greeted warmly. To my left is a robotic mower, meticulously cutting even green lines in the very wet grass. The rain has been coming down in sheets and my feet are already soggy after only five minutes of being on site.

A soggy but successful Scots Turf Show

A soggy but successful Scots Turf Show

All around me is a vast array of enthusiastic stall holders, public and impressive machinery. Each eager member of the public has some form of branded freebie, either on their head or over their shoulder and I am smiling with them at the camaraderie and shared level of interest present.

The food van is doing great business as the cold and wet attendees redeem their money off voucher. There is also free tea and coffee indoors, which I am very grateful for and have never experienced at any other event I’ve been to. I sit with my cup of tea, dry off a bit, charge my phone and look over the map that I also got upon entry.

Turf Tank have also got a piece of robotic machinery on show and I admire the precision line marking it is carrying out. The bold, crisp white lines the little bot is busying itself with is impressive!

First, I meet up with Andrew Donnachie from Iseki, the Regional Sales Manager for Scotland and Ireland. Scotland is their biggest market for winter pavement gritting tractors and the machinery on show today stands ready to fill the market’s needs.

Andrew tells me that it is nice to see more exhibitors this year, there’s been great footfall and that there is a real tight-knit atmosphere to this low-cost event for Scotland.

He feels it is important to showcase machinery using a smaller format and that bigger shows could benefit from learning from Scots Turf.

Key founder Alan Thompson, from SIS Pitches, credited the weather for driving people out to the show! With the rain so heavy, I can see why it may be a better day to come to Hamilton Racecourse.

With opportunities to participate in the seminars, watch demos and chat to stall holders, rather than sitting hunched over on a ride-on mower with every muscle seizing up in the damp cold, sounds more attractive to me too. The seminars range from water management research, climate smart turf management plus Q&A, nutrition and sports turf data.

What started for Alan over a fast-food meal with colleagues, has become a large event that he clearly feels passionate about. He tells me they invest what they make back into the Show along with donating sports products to five or six sports charities each year.

They prioritise product over financial gain. Ultimately his goal is to provide something in Scotland for Scotland as well as support local companies.

A soggy but successful Scots Turf Show

A soggy but successful Scots Turf Show

Next is key founder, Richard Heywood, from Campey Turf Care. When I ask Richard what the best part of the day for him will be, he tells me: “When I’m driving out of the gate to go home, knowing it’s been a job well done and all our efforts have paid off”.

He is particularly pleased that they were able to offer three seminar rooms this year with a PA tannoy system announcing when and where they would be held. The start of the day saw some damage from the wind and rain along with some panic as the tannoy microphone was lost. However, it didn’t take long to tidy up and find the mic and the event started to run smoothly from there.

Richard is keen to thank Laura and Mark, from Hamilton Racecourse, whose help has been invaluable and enabled the smooth running of the show.

Richard is excited to see where it goes from here and is looking forward to seeing many more fresh faces next year.

Richard doesn’t let me go empty handed and I am presented with my own woolly Scots Turf Show hat! I walk among the crowds, and I am jealously eyed by a few who stop me and ask me to tell them where they can get one. I am very glad to tell them that they can get one from either Richard or Alan, whose genuine passion for the show tells by just how much everyone has got from being here to see and experience everything on offer.

I have been to lots of events and a handful at Hamilton Racecourse and this is by far the best organised I have encountered. The feeling of giving back to the Scottish audience is tangible and genuine.

As my thick, attractive, woolly Scots Turf hat settles nicely onto my head, my only feedback would be it is too well insulated and my ears are so well cushioned, I cannot hear a thing… but what I do hear is lots of conversation about next year and what the future holds in store for this already successful event.