Tag Archive for: Course

Pleasington Golf Club reopens after course upgrade

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Pleasington Golf Club reopens after course upgrade: Pleasington Golf Club will reopen all 18 holes to visitors on April 10 following a £1 million course upgrade.

The venue, rated among Golf Monthly magazine’s Top 200 Courses in the UK & Ireland and the No.1 heathland course in Lancashire, has undergone an extensive five-year renovation.

Pleasington Golf Club reopens after course upgrade

Pleasington Golf Club reopens after course upgrade

General Manager, Mark Bleasdale, commented: “The course has undergone a remarkable transformation and is looking sensational and playing magnificently.

“We’ve enhanced every aspect of the playing experience from tee to green, including the reshaping of every bunker. We look forward to welcoming back visitors from across the North West and further afield, including the many golf travellers who stop off on their way to and from Scotland.”

As a 12-time Open Qualifying venue, Pleasington Golf Club has firmly established itself as one of the country’s top golf destinations.

The high heathland layout offers golfers a rewarding challenge with stunning views to the Pennines, Lakes and Fylde coast, where exceptional golf and breathtaking scenery meet.

Just one hour from Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, Pleasington Golf Club is easily accessible via the M6 motorway, making it ideally situated for golfers travelling from both near and far.

To book your tee time, please visit: https://www.pleasington-golf.co.uk/visitors/visitors-green-fees/

For more information on Pleasington Golf Club, please view the Digital Brochure

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New GreenMech chipper impresses new Course Manager

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New GreenMech chipper impresses new Course Manager: 2024 saw a number of new additions to the team at Ashridge Golf Club. Together with a new Course Manager in the form of George Little, just two months later was the arrival of a ChipMaster 220 TMP (CM220TMP) woodchipper from GreenMech.

Purchased to keep on top of routine woodland maintenance, it’s delivery in September was incredibly timely as – set among thousands of acres of National Trust-owned woodland – the team braced for the impacts of a wet and blustery winter season.

New GreenMech chipper impresses new Course Manager

New GreenMech chipper impresses new Course Manager

Heading up a team of 10, George joined Ashridge in July following seven years spent at the nearby Dunstable Downs Golf Club. One of the main responsibilities of his new role was to take charge of the heavy woodland, lending itself to the popular tree-lined 18-hole course. “The team would be keeping on top of routine pruning and general removal of old or unsightly branches but, without our own chipper, would stack these up in piles awaiting the availability of a hire machine” George explains. “To stop these backlogs the club decided to invest in our own woodchipper and opted for the CM220TMP from GreenMech.”

Promising maximum chipping output with minimal investment, the CM220TMP is driven by the PTO shaft and uses its own hydraulic oil to power the rollers. It combines a large 9” capacity with a small, light footprint – something that’s incredibly important for George. “We’re always conscious of avoiding traffic on particularly sensitive areas, so rather than loading brash and timber into trailers and transporting it, we can now take the GreenMech to the exact location and chip. Reducing the risk of damage, it also speeds up the process by 300%.”

“We knew the machine would be helpful, but in a few short months we’ve used it a lot more than we thought we would to the point that I’d go as far as to say we now couldn’t live without it!” Alongside routine pruning of the boundaries, which George says it’s been brilliant for, the CM220TMP also came to the rescue of a number of silver birch that fell victim to the winter storms. “Again, we had the ability to hook up the chipper and take it exactly where it was needed, to quickly and easily deal with the damage.”

“It has definitely impressed us and has undoubtedly brought improved productivity to our woodland work.” He adds, “We’ve also had a good experience with dealers Avant South East Limited and GreenMech’s Neal Hussey who delivered a thorough induction and has been on hand to help us with any questions. It’s, overall, been a very positive addition to the fleet.”

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Bernhard Academy expands course offering

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Bernhard Academy expands course offering: The Bernhard Academy is expanding its Technical and Equipment Management training pathway with the introduction of two new courses, designed to enhance turf care professionals’ technical skills and equipment expertise.

The Basic Machinery Maintenance course is a one-day practical session ideal for those involved in the operation, supervision, or maintenance of turf care machinery. Attendees will develop fundamental skills in daily checks, adjustments, fault-finding, and basic repairs – ensuring optimal performance and longevity. The course will take place at the Bernhard Academy hub at Moortown Golf Club on 4 and 5 March.

Bernhard Academy expands course offering

Bernhard Academy expands course offering

For those seeking a deeper technical foundation, the Fundamentals of Turf Care Mechanics – Level 1 course six days of hands-on training. This comprehensive programme is designed for individuals looking to build or refresh their skills in essential service and fault-finding tasks. Delivered over two three-day sessions, the course runs at Moortown Golf Club from 11-13 and 18-20 March.

Both courses will be led by Barry Drennan, new Programme Leader for Technical and Equipment Management at the Bernhard Academy, alongside the expert team at Moortown Golf Club. With over 35 years of international experience in turf management, Drennan brings a wealth of knowledge, having qualified as a golf course mechanic in 1991 and worked with leading industry brands including Toro and Bernhard and Company. His career spans equipment sales, hire, training, and service, with involvement in major tournaments such as the Ryder Cup and Walker Cup.

Drennan commented: “Well-maintained machinery is the backbone of high-quality turf. These courses are designed to give turf professionals the confidence and technical skills to keep equipment performing at its best – ensuring precision, efficiency, and reliability. Whether you’re new to turf care mechanics or looking to refine your expertise, our hands-on training will provide practical knowledge that can be applied immediately in the field.”

For more information on the new technical training programmes, and all other courses available through the Bernhard Academy, visit: www.bernhardacademy.co.uk

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Golf course switches brands in huge machinery overhaul

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Golf course switches brands in huge machinery overhaul: One of the UK’s most revered golfing destinations, Woodhall Spa Golf Club, has completely overhauled its machinery fleet by switching brands to John Deere.

Technology, reliability and dealer service drove the decision for the home of England Golf to remove its existing machines and invest in new cutting units, Gator utility vehicles, GPS sprayers and a compact tractor.

Golf course switches brands in huge machinery overhaul

Golf course switches brands in huge machinery overhaul

Embracing cloud-based software, the greenkeeping team responsible for maintaining the iconic Hotchkin and Bracken courses will now use John Deere’s new Operations Centre PRO-Golf platform to allocate daily tasks, track input costs, schedule servicing and generate reports.

John Deere dealer Ripon Ground Care delivered the 26 pieces of machinery on 19 February and will now lead a programme of staff training and optimisation to ensure maximum efficiency and performance from the fleet.

Peter Moore, Course Director at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, said: “We were impressed with the build quality and the GPS technology during the intensive demonstration period. All the team were involved in the decision giving feedback on each item of equipment.”

The purchase has been structured by John Deere Financial, allowing the club to spread payments while it also invests a new clubhouse and facilities.

“The flexible finance option presented to us allowed us to maximise our budget and deliver a payment schedule that suited our business,” Peter added.

Woodhall Spa Golf Club is close to Lincoln and boasts two 18-hole championship courses, one of which – Hotchkin – ranks 58th best in the world.

Greens and tees will now be cut with 2750E riding mowers and 260SL walk-behinds, while fairways will be maintained by four 6700A E-cuts.

A total of 10 electric and diesel gators will be used for transporting staff and materials around the course, and two satellite-steered HD200 precision sprayers will take care of weeds and diseases with unrivalled accuracy.

A 4066R compact tractor is on hand for heavy work and towing.

Chris Meacock, John Deere Division Sales Manager for Golf and Turf, said: “With a fully connected fleet the team at Woodhall Spa will not only see the benefit of the latest technology on our cutting units and sprayer, but will also be able to account for every second of machinery use.

“This brings a whole new dimension to course management resulting in greater efficiency and accuracy for the whole operation.”

Scott Trestrail, Area Sales Manager at Ripon Ground Care, said: “It’s great that Woodhall Spa Golf Club recognises the whole package available, from seamless equipment integration, cutting-edge technology plus the reliability and back-up. We look forward to working with and supporting the club going forwards.”

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Tenant sought to run South Buckingham Golf Course

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Tenant sought to run South Buckingham Golf Course: A rare chance to lease an established golf course has arrived on the market through national property consultancy Carter Jonas on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council.

South Buckingham Golf Course in Stoke Poges boasts a well-maintained 18-hole golf course with a modern clubhouse, together with ancillary buildings and an adjacent playing field complex.

Tenant sought to run South Buckingham Golf Course

Tenant sought to run South Buckingham Golf Course

Available to let as a whole or in parts, there are also facilities supporting several other sports including rugby, football, softball and baseball, as well as martial arts facilities.

“The course has many established trees and ditches crossing the fairways, plus a small practice area, two practice nets and a practice putting green,” says Carter Jonas Head of Rural Agency, Andrew Chandler.

“It has lovely scenery, a great variety of holes and several subtle elements that make every round both enjoyable and challenging.”

A modern single-storey clubhouse extends to 6,776 sq ft (629.55 sq m) and boasts a bar and restaurant, meeting rooms, golf pro shop, changing rooms, showers and associated offices.

“Padel Tennis UK has installed two courts on a sub lease at the course too,” explains Mr Chandler. “One of the world’s fastest-growing sports, these courts have proven to be extremely popular.”

Altogether the golf course stretches to 131 acres (53 ha), with the total site covering 204 acres (83 ha).

Farnham Park Playing Fields is 73 acres (30 ha) and has a wide range of sports pitches and facilities located on the site, together with clubhouses, changing facilities and car parks. There is a children’s playground operated by Farnham Royal Parish Council, a fenced-off area that is used for the grazing of horses and a small area of woodland to the north.

“The site boasts six adult-size football pitches, two youth pitches, two junior pitches and two small training pitches that are available to hire,” says Mr Chandler. “There are also two rugby pitches and purpose-built baseball and softball pitches – which are only purpose-built pitches of their kind in the UK.”

There is a range of buildings on site, including a martial arts centre and associated facilities.

The property is offered to let and expressions of interest together with proposals should be submitted by 28 February 2025 to the Carter Jonas Oxford office.

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