Tag Archive for: GC

Littlestone GC strikes gold

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Littlestone GC strikes gold: In 2021, Littlestone Golf Club in Kent became a Toro Total Solutions customer by upgrading its fleet with Toro machinery and investing in a Toro Lynx Central Control irrigation system. Now it has safeguarded its machinery investment by signing up to Reesink’s ReeAssure Gold maintenance scheme for the all-round perfect deal.

Head greenkeeper Chris Barnard says: “There were plans to alter the courses by redesigning the bunkers with the help of architects and building new tees, and the timing of that fitted well with upgrading the irrigation system as well as requiring a sturdy, multi-functional fleet to make things as quick and efficient as possible.”

Littlestone GC strikes gold

Littlestone GC strikes gold

With so much to do and a new 23 machine deal including cylinder mowers, rotary mowers, aerators, topdressers, sprayers and utility vehicles, the Club subsequently added the ReeAssure maintenance and servicing scheme to the deal to look after the entire fleet of new and old machines.

Chris says: “With all the maintenance the team was taking on that occupied a lot of their time, coupled with not having a specialised mechanic or indeed staff trained in specific areas meant we were only able to deal with basic things and not with repairs or replacements. That would require outside help and that’s where Reesink came in.”

The Gold plan includes unlimited visits, covers all breakdown and call-out costs, only uses Toro genuine parts and covers all electrical components. Reesink’s South East Sheffield Park branch is providing the support and Chris has nothing but praise for the service so far.

He says: “They’re very helpful, we just need to give them a call and they’ll be there. They know what they’re talking about, know the machines inside out, and can find the problem right away whereas it would take us much longer to do so. Since most of the Toro machines now have new technology, they also require a bit more knowledge to fix. The Reesink guys will have it figured out in 15 minutes or less just by using their laptops. It’s so much easier to delegate that to them so we can focus all our work on the courses.”

Littlestone Golf Club already had a very good long-standing relationship with Reesink having acquired most of its fleet from the distributor a few years previously. After the agreement came to an end, the club decided to continue with the distributor and renew again for two reasons: the trust that it would be a good partnership and the desire to continue with Toro.

Knowing the quality the brand offers in its machines, the club chose to invest in its irrigation products opting for the Lynx Central Control system for its upgrade. The irrigation system optimally manages water and resources through a convenient app and is currently being installed.

“It’s an exciting thing to be at the club, looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes and making a difference,” Chris concludes. “Hopefully, with the help of Reesink, we can now focus on all the planning we have going on and getting the work done faster knowing everything else is taken care of.”

Call 01480 226800 or go online at reesinkturfcare.co.uk to find out more about Reesink ReeAssure maintenance plans.

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Wiedenmann Terra Rake at Western Gailes GC

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Wiedenmann Terra Rake at Western Gailes GC: One of Scotland’s finest links courses, Western Gailes GC, on the north Ayrshire coast, is three years into a long-term project to restore more of the links effect to the rough on the highly acclaimed site.

Course Manager, Stewart Brown, who took up his role in 2017, has targeted a specific area of the course to improve definition and quality. Already by harnessing the expertise of his seven greens staff, progress is being made.

Wiedenmann Terra Rake at Western Gailes GC

Wiedenmann Terra Rake at Western Gailes GC

“We’ve undertaken some fairly significant course changes. One key project has been to re-align major areas of rough back into fairways, so swathes of   long-term rough are now actively being prepared and groomed to become fairways,” said Stewart Brown.

Removing organic matter then, considerably increasing fine fescue grasses by additional seeding, is still a work in progress. However, a recently acquired Wiedenmann Terra Rake has an important role to play.

“We’ll be using the rake to thin these areas out regularly,” continued Stewart.” It is crucial be able to use the rake so we can avoid lifting the turf and re-laying it.”

Already familiar with the Terra Rake’s results having borrowed one for an extended period, Stewart was keen to purchase his own 2.3 m version from local dealer, Fairways GM, exclusive supplier of Wiedenmann UK in Scotland.

“We’ve wanted one for a while. We have a Super 500 and those two go hand -in-hand for rough management, particularly for thinning out the rough and removing dead material. Together, they speed the process.

Stewart’s plan for the Terra Rake means it will be active across Western Gailes’ heavy rough, the semi rough and on the fairways.

“We’ve rough to manage throughout the course on every hole. In places the terrain is quite undulating. I like that the Terra Rake comes with an adjustment so you can lessen or increase the intensity of the tine vibration.

“Our heavier rough will be tackled twice a year. The rake, operating in both dry and wet conditions means I’ve a flexible tool to deploy when other work can’t go ahead.  As we go through the season. we will use it for the semi roughs to stand the grass up before we cut, to make the task of cutting easier and, of course, to benefit presentation.”

“Some other fairway areas will also benefit from more attention. A couple of drought periods in the last two years, has weakened them, so the rake will go in to pull out organic matter; then we’ll blow the dead matter to the side to be picked up and collected with the Super 500. The spring tines on the Terra Rake help create space and a receptive seed bed before we follow on with the Wiedenmann Terra Float seeder.

“We made a healthy start in February and March. The bulk of the overseeding works tends to take place at the end of the year but we will still be using it to remove dead material earlier on in the season.”

The arrival of their own Terra Rake gives Stewart and his team an impressive fleet of Wiedenmann machines, all purchased from Fairways GM.

“When I joined, we had a Super 500 and a Terra Float. We added a Terra Spike GXi8 HD for aeration; a Terra Brush which we use throughout winter for brushing our fairways and now, the rake. Just about a full Wiedenmann set, so not bad at all,” concluded Stewart.

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Top-Brush improves Woolley Park GC

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Top-Brush improves Woolley Park GC: When a Redexim Top-Brush was unloaded from the trailer for a working demonstration at Woolley Park Golf Club in September 2021, Head Greenkeeper John Rowbottom was so impressed that it never went back on! 20 minutes spent on the 18th fairway of the West Yorkshire club were enough to convince John and his team of the improvements the Top-Brush could make to course presentation, and the role it would play in the non-chemical control of worm casts.

The complex, now consisting of 27-holes, was built by John’s father and grandfather and opened to the public in 1995. John has been involved since its inception and has witnessed many changes when it comes to maintenance tools and techniques in that time – particularly recently with the restrictions on chemical controls for worms. He explains, “We’ve been looking for new ways to manage, what is, a problem not just for us as greenkeepers but for our customers too. We’d read about the Redexim Top-Brush and so organised for Andy O’Neill, together with our local dealer Cheshire Turf, to bring in a demo unit which seriously impressed!”

Top-Brush improves Woolley Park GC

Top-Brush improves Woolley Park GC

“The day of the demonstration came at the end of a particularly warm spell so, despite not struggling with worms at the time, it’s potential was evident. We ran it over one of our fairways and it gave us an instant improvement in definition and overall presentation.” Since September, the Top-Brush has been used up to three times a week, going out ahead of the fairway mowers to stand the plant up, dry the plant out and improve the quality of cut. When worm activity then increased significantly during October & November, the 6m working width of the Top-Brush meant casts were quickly and effectively dispersed.

“Using the Top-Brush to disperse the worm casts has also helped to prevent damage, wear and tear to our equipment than can otherwise occur when casts are fed into them – we noticed that we weren’t having to constantly re-sharpen the mower blades for example.” John adds, “Redexim have come up with a fantastic solution to what is now a major problem for Greenkeepers, with a piece of equipment that doesn’t just come into play during the autumn but brings benefit to plant health and course condition year-round.”

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Multi-Seeder delivers for Eyemouth GC

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Multi-Seeder delivers for Eyemouth GC: Head Greenkeeper at Eyemouth Golf Club Keith Burgon has praised the Redexim Multi-Seeder for transforming overseeding operations at the Scottish club.

Where previously, overseeding the 18 greens would have taken the team of three more than a day to complete, with the Multi-Seeder the task takes just a matter of hours – not just resulting in major labour savings but improvements in germination too!

Multi-Seeder delivers for Eyemouth GC

Multi-Seeder delivers for Eyemouth GC

Eyemouth GC is a clifftop/links course perched on the top of Gunsgreen Hill in the Scottish Borders. Their exposed coastal location means that when it comes to seed, it’s salt-tolerant Fescues required for the greens – however without a seeder at their disposal, overseeding was limited by resources to an annual operation. “We would aerate, then broadcast the seed with a spreader, then have to manually brush the seed in and topdress which was all hugely time consuming” explains Keith, who has been at the club for seven years.

“I have used the Multi-Seeder before and have seen first-hand the fantastic results it achieves at other clubs. After speaking to Ian Lauder from Redexim, we had one in on demo from our local dealer Hendersons, so that we could check it would suit our course conditions. We had the opportunity to try it on a couple of our greens and tees, and the whole team were immediately impressed by the minimal disruption it left and the great germination that followed.”

Since taking delivery of the 1.2m wide Multi-Seeder 1200 in September 2021, it has already helped to deliver important fescues into some of the courses most exposed greens. “The twin sarel roller set-up is creating double the holes, so double the opportunity for getting seed into the ground. This undoubtedly helped us to see good germination, despite us not getting out with it until late November. The fact it is equipped with two brushes also means that an additional member of staff isn’t required to follow the Multi-Seeder round. What was previously a three-man job, is now complete in one pass.”

Keith adds, “With the growth in golf, it’s more important than ever to be able to get jobs such as overseeding done as quickly and effectively as possible. Now that we have the Multi-Seeder, not only can we overseed more frequently throughout the year to boost course condition, the clean finish means we can complete the operation prior to play commencing, and the golfers will barely notice anything has been done!”

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Wiedenmann duo assists Ladybank GC

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Wiedenmann duo assists Ladybank GC: In a corner of the UK where there are many remarkable golf courses, Fife’s Ladybank Golf Club, sets the bar high. Designed by Old Tom Morris in 1879, and venue for final qualifying for The Senior Open in 2018, Ladybank, has quintessential charm.

Grant Frogley, who joined as Course Manager in August 2021, is conscious of a responsibility to manage golf and the native flora and fauna in harmony across the site.

Wiedenmann duo assists Ladybank GC

Wiedenmann duo assists Ladybank GC

“We are a true heathland course. I consider this our USP, especially in Fife. Golf must be sensitive to the habitat. Take the red squirrel on our club badge, for example. It might be in decline nationally, but it thrives here. Our woodland policy will naturally promote pines and silver birch, trees the red squirrel favours. Our work is to tie all these strands together.

One of Grant’s first major projects is a programme of heather regeneration, requiring a three-to-four-year timeline to invigorate existing plantations and establish new growth.

“Heather is very much ‘in play’ at Ladybank; it’s a feature of the golf course which claims many golf balls,” explained Grant. “It predominantly lines the fringes of the fairways on many holes. The acreage of existing areas isn’t known, so part of our new process will be to measure so we can benchmark it year-on-year to chart its increase.

“Not long after I arrived, I ordered a 2.3 m Wiedenmann Terra Rake from Mike Lindsay, Area Sales Manager at Fairways GM. It partners the Wiedenmann Super 500, which I was pleased to inherit. These are my machines of choice for heather management. Previously as Course Manager at the Roxburghe I purchased a Super 600, so was familiar with that machine, but the Terra Rake is invaluable.

“Much of our heather is in a mature state. Plants are 25-30 years old, not at the degenerative stage but now is the perfect time to act. Unattended heather can become too old for intervention, the canopy begins to open and invasive species, like gorse and broom, appear.”

Already Grant, and his team of seven, have conducted a host of separate operations.

Heather seed is traditionally collected from the end of October, once heather flowers have faded. Conventionally, rogue grasses that stand taller than the heather plants are removed from the plot where the seed is gathered. The Super 500 fitted with flail blades then cuts and collects the heather pods, or brash. The valuable brash is respread on existing or new areas.

“In other places we are topping it off and continue to collect more seed. Cutting heather back is an important part of our plan. It means we will return it to that ‘building stage’ of its growth cycle; so next season, it remains youthful, and when it flowers, we would hope to see it with a better, more vibrant colour.

“We have also gone into several of the fringe sections of the fairways, and only partially topped them off. We’re mindful that heather plants at varying life stages creates a more consistent habitat for wildlife.

“At edges of the fairways within the playing corridors, places where we don’t want to strip the vegetation, the Terra Rake is the perfect tool for raking and scratching the surface to break the canopy, to expose the existing seed beds without us losing the vegetation.

“Next stage is looking at and preparing areas where we can respread that seed. We have some techniques up our sleeve which include the Terra Rake, but heather management will always be a continuous cycle.

“Still on the theme of promoting the habitat, we are introducing some wildflower areas which will prosper while our heather flourishes. Similarly, our programme of good woodland management will also get underway. These are all great projects to start in my first six months here,” explained Grant.

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