Tag Archive for: GC

Newark GC note improvements in reliability

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Newark GC note improvements in reliability: Newark Golf Club are one of a growing list of UK courses discovering the many benefits that Aspen Fuel brings to the operation of their petrol-powered equipment.

It’s been three years since Course Manager Alex Clarricoates made the switch to Aspen 2 and Aspen 4 for a selection of their machinery and hand tools – including seasonal equipment which now starts first time, every time, even after significant periods in storage.

Newark GC note improvements in reliability

Newark GC note improvements in reliability

“We were familiar with Aspen and decided to give it a try during COVID, when we started to encounter difficulties in accessing pump fuel” explains Alex, who has been at the 18-hole parkland course for 15 years. “It’s not until you incorporate it into the day to day operations that you really begin to appreciate the improvements that an ethanol-free alkylate fuel can have for both the operators and the equipment. The biggest benefit for me is the shelf-life of Aspen, which has seen us get equipment out of the shed which has been dormant for a year and starts again with no trouble at all.”

Together with damaging plastic and rubber components, ethanol binds moisture which then acidifies, causing the issues commonly experienced with ‘gummy deposits’, reliability issues and reduced storage life. Being free from ethanol as well as benzene, sulphur and many other harmful substances, Aspen Alkylate petrol offers a clean alternative for both 2 and 4-stroke engines – available in a range of pack sizes and bulk ordering available, which includes safe and convenient delivery to site.

“We use roughly 400 litres of the 4-stroke Aspen, and 200 litres of the 2-stroke each year, both delivered in 200 litre barrels and stored exactly where we need it. Another benefit we’ve found is the Aspen 2 being pre-mixed which has eliminated issues we’ve experienced in the past where incorrect fuel to oil ratios have resulted in faults with some of our 2-stroke engines.”

Along with reduction in service time and the associated costs, Alex notes that improvements have also been observed to the operator working environment. “The cleaner burn results in a big reduction in noxious fumes so, when you’re working with a chainsaw in dense woodland for example, you’ll notice that come the end of the day you don’t have headaches.” These qualities have also been well received by the club. “Like a lot of venues we’re looking at sustainability and ways of reducing the impact we make on our surroundings. Aspen Alkylate powering our petrol equipment is a great step forward in us being more environmentally friendly.”

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Spalding GC go into winter clear of compaction

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Spalding GC go into winter clear of compaction: A Deep Tine Aerator (DTA) from GKB Machines was delivered and put straight to work by the team at Spalding Golf Club, as part of their pre-winter maintenance programme.

Delivering impressive aeration down to 12”, the DTA 160 has already completed passes on both the greens and the fairways since its arrival in October 2022 and will be pivotal in keeping the course clear of compaction in the wetter months.

Spalding GC go into winter clear of compaction

Spalding GC go into winter clear of compaction

Head Greenkeeper Kevin Goude took charge just five months ago, and together with the greens team of five, was delighted to learn he’d inherited an order for a new GKB DTA 160 placed by his predecessor and due for delivery from local distributor Russells Groundcare. “We’ve got a pedestrian aerator in the shed which is ideal for summer work at depths of 4” but we needed something to replace an ageing machine that could penetrate much deeper to really help drainage and root growth” explains Kevin.

The GKB DTA is deep by name and deep by nature, offering easily adjustable depth and heave angle of up to 25o for effective compaction relief. At 1.6m wide, the DTA 160 at Spalding GC is well suited for tasks around the golf course – from fairways, tees and aprons to intensive aeration on the clubs 18 greens.

“We took delivery of the DTA 160 at the end of October and went out immediately on the greens, before switching to ¾” tines working at a depth of 10” on the fairways due to the dry summer. One thing we really like about the GKB aerator is the tine blocks which make switching between sets really quick and easy compared to having to replace each tine individually. There’s a whole range of tine options available with this machine as well so we can really make the most of it with operations throughout the maintenance calendar.”

“Alongside the tine system, another thing we’ve been particularly impressed with is the build quality of the DTA – well engineered and robust to handle some of the more challenging ground conditions we have on the fairways.” Kevin concludes, “Beside the machine itself, the support and back-up service we’ve had from Russell’s Groundcare and Tom Shinkins at GKB has also been excellent. We can now look to aerate deeper as we go into winter and be best placed to cope with whatever the weather can throw at us!”

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Carrier and Verti-Drain® combo keeps Warrenpoint GC

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Carrier and Verti-Drain® combo keeps Warrenpoint GC: For the first time in four years, the players at Warrenpoint Golf Club are going into the winter on main greens, thanks to an extensive aeration programme introduced by Head Greenkeeper Matt Purcell.

It’s also no coincidence that this year, Matt purchased a Redexim Carrier and Verti-Drain® 1513 allowing the team to effectively aerate all 18 greens in as little as a day – keeping them bone dry and proving themselves as fit for year-round play.

Carrier and Verti-Drain® combo keeps Warrenpoint GC

Carrier and Verti-Drain® combo keeps Warrenpoint GC

Warrenpoint is ranked as one of the top parkland courses in Northern Ireland, situated in the heart of County Down and surrounded by the Mourne Mountains on one side and Carlingford Lough on the other. Matt heads-up a maintenance team of five and, on joining the club in late 2021, took some soil samples on the greens which highlighted the need for some ‘TLC’. “Like a lot of golf clubs in Ireland, we were previously relying on contractors to come in and aerate, but my experience from working in clubs in England means I appreciate the multiple benefits that can be brought about with regular aeration every five to six weeks.”

“After speaking to the board, we invited Ian Lauder from Redexim and local dealer Cyril Johnston in with the Redexim Carrier and Verti-Drain®, which I had trialled at a previous club. I was no-less impressed seeing it the second time around! The great thing is that the implement can be used with the Carrier or swapped onto a tractor giving you complete flexibility, and a power unit that can then conduct other operations on the greens and tees” Matt explains.

Since the combination was purchased and delivered in March this year, Matt and the team have aerated all greens once a month, along with the tees twice and specific problem areas on some of the fairways. “This set-up is just brilliant. It is faster and wider than other comparable models meaning we can complete most of our greens in four or five passes, and all 18 greens in a day. The tyres are much better as well being slick, which means we can go anywhere with it and not have to plot a specific route around the course.”

The Redexim Carrier is powered by a 31hp engine and hydrostatic transmission which lends itself to high output and ease of operation. It can work with a variety of implements such as seeders, verti-cutters and in this instance the Verti-Drain® 1513 – a lightweight 1.3m model, working with 15o of heave and to a maximum depth of 6” making it ideal for use on sensitive turf areas.

Matt adds, “Time is of the essence with everything we do on the course. Not only do we need to be aerating when the conditions suit, but when we do the operation, we want to be round as quickly as possible so that the members can play golf. With this combination, we can now do both – delivering huge improvements to playability and course condition that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the players and the club.”

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Ex-demo Toro mower for Shotts GC

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Ex-demo Toro mower for Shotts GC: Machines are in high demand and Shotts Golf Club has bagged itself a rare gem – an ex-demo hybrid mower from Toro dealer Reesink Scotland.

Located half-way between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Shotts Golf Club was in the market for a hybrid mower with longevity. Course manager Andrew Kirk, who has been managing operations for a little over two years, explains: “This is not the first time the club has had an electric or hybrid mower, but it is the first time we’ve had a Toro one. Reliability was an issue with our old electric machine, which didn’t last very long compared to the price we had paid – – not even five years, so this time I went for Toro whose reputation for longevity and reliability is widely known.”

Ex-demo Toro mower for Shotts GC

Ex-demo Toro mower for Shotts GC

 

In terms of going with an ex-demo machine, Andrew says: “Being more sustainable also means reutilising as much as possible and skipping a brand-new machine for one that had had some light usage is something that fits with our overall ethos and approach to sustainability. The fact that it was available immediately and delivered very quickly was a major plus.”

When it launched in 2019, Toro’s Greensmaster eTriFlex 3360 hybrid greensmower was the perfect example of hybrid technology in a riding greensmower. The combination of a Kawasaki engine with battery assist technology offered the best of both worlds. Saving up to 20 percent in fuel and a constant 2,400 rpm with shrouded engine for amazingly quiet operation, but with a known diesel engine, it was a reliable, more sustainable energy source.

Andrew continues: “Being hybrid limits the hydraulic bursts on the greens and not having to deal with that was a big thing for me. The team much prefers this model to the previous one. They like the ease of setting it up, including the height setting, and the way it’s so straight-forward, it’s a surprisingly simple machine to use when you consider the technology involved. That saves us so much time and energy that we can spend elsewhere.”

The club has made many eco-friendly changes including roughs management that allows certain areas to remain uncut to provide habitats for different forms of wildlife. The next step for Andrew and the team is to look at water management options for rainwater capture, coupled with filtration and aeration, but for now, being able to tend to the greens with a lot more peace of mind is already a much-welcomed improvement.

Andrew concludes: “We are certainly looking into replacing more machines in the future with hybrid and electric alternatives but for now, this one is doing very well and we’re very happy with the purchase.”

Gareth Rogers, area sales specialist at Reesink Scotland, who facilitated the transaction, adds: “It was a pleasure providing Andrew with a reliable solution, which has helped make his job a little bit easier and makes this job worthwhile. Ex-demo machines through Reesink are stripped down and any warn down parts are replaced with new ones. We make sure the machines are restored so that they are as close to new condition as possible before they are sold.”

To talk to someone about how the Toro range could suit your course, call 01480 226800.

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Electric greens at Sheringham GC

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Electric greens at Sheringham GC: All-electric ride-on power arrives in East Anglia for the first time as Sheringham Golf Course becomes the first club in the area to purchase Toro’s all-electric eTriFlex 3370 riding greensmower.

When ranked 75th in the 2022 National Club Golfer Top 100 Courses in England, the work undertaken each year isn’t just about maintaining the status quo, it’s about working hard to enhance the club in meaningful ways, according to course manager Ricky Goodman, and in 2022 sustainability is top of the agenda.

Electric greens at Sheringham GC

Electric greens at Sheringham GC

Currently in his fourth year at the Norfolk club, known for its unique ocean and stream train views, Ricky made his bid for new Toro machinery when he arrived, and the board supported the move once they understood all the benefits this change would bring to the club.

Ricky says: “I shared my plans and ideas for the course and how bringing Toro in, the quality of the machines and innovation of the brand would benefit the course and with finance through distributor Reesink available, I got their backing. Clubs in Norfolk, including this one, are known for using a specific brand of turfcare machinery and our club was ready to move on and set itself apart, all it needed was a little push.

“We’re focusing on many sustainable initiatives this year and using lithium-ion battery-power for cutting our greens spearheads them all. The all-electric eTriFlex 3370 ticks so many boxes and solves many issues. There’s no noise pollution which means we can start mowing earlier without disturbing the residents we have bordering the back of the club and we no longer need to worry about oil spills on the greens, which causes incredible damage.”

In addition to this, Ricky explains how the club is using solar panels to create its own energy and is replacing plastic tees with biodegradable wooden ones instead. Irrigation is a top priority, both supply and storage given the recent draught and Ricky is “looking into water storage and capture for irrigation for the paths and fairways”, alongside construction works, including levelling tees that are 100 years old. Ricky is also cutting back on the nutrients in the greens to help preserve more sustainable species.

The Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 is not the only Toro machine the club is investing in, also on order are a ProCore 648 aerator and Reelmaster 3575-D. The reason for further expanding the fleet is for the brand’s longevity and resale value as Ricky explains: “Toro machines can run for five to six years no trouble; they have a market leading resale value and whereas other brands would go off-cut very quickly with Toro it’s just a quick click and you’re back on it. Plus, I can take all units off quick release and back on in five minutes, other brands would take 30 minutes just to take them out so productivity with Toro is much improved.”

It’s certainly a decision that’s proved itself with Ricky’s seven-strong team, the members and board, says Ricky: “The Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 mower is the benchmark, the next level in turfcare machinery, and we couldn’t be happier with the difference we can see on the course. All-electric mowers are the talk of the industry, and discussion on their benefits has influenced other clubs to go green as well. We’ve had a lot of interest in ours – the local contractor mechanics have asked to borrow it for training, getting to know the machine and preparing for how the market will be progressing. It won’t be long before every golf course will want one.”

To talk to someone about Toro technology and how the Toro range could suit your course, call 01480 226800.

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