Tag Archive for: golf

Its all about the cut for South Herts Golf Club

/in , , /by

Its all about the cut for South Herts Golf Club: South Herts Golf Club is underlining its commitment to exceptional course presentation and outstanding playing conditions through its continued investment in Baroness mowing technology.

With two LM66 tee mowers, four LM56 hand mowers dedicated to greens, and an LM331 already in use as well as a Agrimetal GR400 Greens roller, the impact on turf quality has been immediate and unmistakable. The superior quality of cut has been widely recognised by both the greenkeeping team and players alike, prompting the club to further strengthen its fleet with the addition of two new LM311 triple greens mowers, due for delivery in spring 2026.

Its all about the cut for South Herts Golf Club

Its all about the cut for South Herts Golf Club

Course Manager Sean Brocklehurst joined the South Herts team in March 2023, spearheading the maintenance of the club’s 18-hole Vardon course and its 9-hole Rees Course. “I was introduced to Baroness at a previous role back in 2003, so am very familiar with the quality of the machines. The biggest selling point has always been, and continues to be, the cutting reels” Sean explains. “The quality of the bedknives and how long they stay on cut is by far and away the best on the market. At my previous club we changed the bedknives on our Baroness fairway machine, which had run the same set for seven years – and they still had life in them!”

The Baroness range delivers a low maintenance, quality-built solution ideally suited to the club’s ‘North London Clay’ construction – with the hand mowers helping to elevate the course not only in appearance but in agronomic condition. Between October and February, when ride-on machine usage is reduced to minimise weight and tyre marking when travelling between greens, the pedestrian LM66’s and LM56’s become the mowers of choice.

“The LM66 mowers deliver the cherry on the cake to year-round presentation on the tees. The cut is uniform and, from a maintenance perspective, there’s so little we need to do with them to retain that high level of finish.” Sean continues, “When we switch from ride-ons to the LM56’s on the greens, the players notice the difference in cut quality straight away! Here, we’re cutting roughly twice a week at a height of 6mm and it really takes the surfaces to new levels.”

“We also find that we are saving both time and money with the Baroness machines, by not having to replace blades so frequently or spend hours on upkeep and maintenance.”

Sean also praises the support from Baroness and local dealership George Browns which has also played a part in his loyalty to the brand. “We’ve always found support readily available, whether its advice, parts or even the odd favour here and there. Stuart Gray at Baroness and David Fisher at George Brown’s are always more than willing to help when needed.”

“I also like that Baroness are doing their part to support the wider industry, with educational initiatives and updates to their facility which hopefully means we’ll be able to make a trip for some training to ensure we’re using our machines to their full potential” he concludes.

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

Brand switch for Massereene Golf Club

/in , /by

Brand switch for Massereene Golf Club: Massereene Golf Club in Northern Ireland has recently changed its cutting fleet to Toro. The significant overhaul was driven by performance, reliability, and reassurance in the brand and dealer service in Keys Brothers who managed the deal.

For the parkland course with narrow fairways and small greens, accuracy is the key to successful play. The same rule applies for cutting these areas. It needs to be precise and exact and Course Manager Mark Cassidy knew it would be Toro that could best handle these intricacies.

Brand switch for Massereene Golf Club

Brand switch for Massereene Golf Club

“I’ve been working as a greenkeeper for 35 years and know what’s required to deliver the best results,” he says. “I know from experience that when it comes to performance Toro is what we can rely on when it comes to ensuring the best finish across the course, but it especially withstands the test in the trickier areas. We couldn’t be happier with the results.”

Trusting in the brand’s performance is equally as important as ensuring a top quality finish, and this was something the club as a whole needed to get behind.

Mark explains: “The committee was of course involved in the decision to move away from our previous supplier and bring Toro on board – everyone needed to be in agreement that this was the best route forward for the club to guarantee its success over the next five years. We had to consider the tournaments we were hosting, machinery servicing and backup and support.

“For the ISPS HANDA World Invitational for example, Toro stepped forward with loan machines for us to use in preparation for and throughout the event. We were well supported and the view from everyone was that using Toro guaranteed the immaculate presentation we needed.”

The maintenance support and customer service from Keys Brothers completed the package and the club will take advantage of a full service plan from the dealer including regular sharpenings, new blade fittings and preset checks.

“We don’t have a mechanic but by having the maintenance supplied by Keys Brothers it’s like we do. It enables us to be consistent with our records and keep on schedule. It guarantees peace of mind when it comes to health and safety too.”

The deal comprises a full cutting fleet of greens, tees, fairways and rough mowers including hybrid cutting options such as the Reelmaster 5010-H and three new Workman models in a utility vehicle refresh.

Andy Keys, Company Director for Keys Brothers, says: “Massereene is a club with big plans and aspirational goals. They didn’t want the equipment they were using holding them back. By talking to us they realised there was a way to have the quality machinery and the support they needed in a comprehensive package that brings better value for money. Now they have a fixed price for the machines and the maintenance and no unexpected bills or unwelcome surprises like they were having before.”

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

Ecorobotix steps strongly into sustainable golf

/in , /by

Ecorobotix steps strongly into sustainable golf: Swiss company Ecorobotix has added to its exciting entry into golf with the announcement of a multi-year collaboration with longstanding sustainability partner to the industry – GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation.

The move compliments the company’s global launch of ALBA – the new, ultra-high precision turfgrass application equipment, which is currently being profiled at back to back BIGGA and GCSAA industry events in Europe and the US. Ecorobotix is a certified B Corp and a UK signatory to the UN Global Compact.

Ecorobotix steps strongly into sustainable golf

Ecorobotix steps strongly into sustainable golf

Ecorobotix joins a diverse range of other leading industry stakeholders, including national and international associations, tours, companies, clubs, developments, tournaments and players that are already connected through the Foundation’s collaborative work and non-profit resources.

Speaking about the relationship Claude Juriens, CRO of Ecorobotix said – “2026 is a very exciting year for us.  It sees us enter the global golf market with brand new technology that combines custom software and hardware to reduce inputs into turfgrass by as much as 90%. This is technology with a well proven track record across agriculture, now fully adapted for fine turf.

“As a demonstration of our commitment to the importance of sustainability to golf, we are delighted to also collaborate with GEO Foundation. Over the last 20 years they have helped build an important collaborative platform of partners, resources and expertise that is helping to advance golf’s collective action and its stewardship.”

Jonathan Smith, Executive Director of GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation said:  “Sustainability at scale takes a full team effort – involving leadership, innovation and collaboration from many diverse stakeholders. Ecorobotix bring all of those things to the industry.  Their support is a great boost in our missions to help more parts of golf get engaged, accelerate their efforts and promote their results. It’s a movement that continues to be so important to the future of golf and communities around the world.”

A specific focus of joint activities will be the promotion of the science of ‘ultra-high precision’ applications to turf.  Focussing on how improved targeting at scale can lead to significant further reductions in chemical use and associated water and fertiliser inputs.

More can be found out at https://turf.ecorobotix.com/ and sustainable.golf

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

Royal Ascot Golf Club commits £1m to greenkeeping upgrades

/in , , /by

Royal Ascot Golf Club commits £1m to greenkeeping upgrades: Royal Ascot Golf Club has invested significantly into its greenkeeping machinery and grounds team, weeks after scooping its first national award at a black tie ceremony in Leicester. 

The club – which won Golf Club of the Year at the annual Club Awards in November – has committed more than £1m to upgrade its course, mower fleet, cutters and maintenance equipment so its eight strong greenkeeping team can deliver a quality playing surface 364 days each year.

Royal Ascot Golf Club commits £1m to greenkeeping upgrades

Royal Ascot Golf Club commits £1m to greenkeeping upgrades

Mowers used to cut tees, fairways, approaches and greens have been replaced and new turf sprayers and turbines have been added to ensure the course and its surrounds are kept in pristine condition in all seasons.

The club has also invested in new monitoring technology, so its greenkeepers can digitally assess the performance of its mowers and their effectiveness to maximise performance.

Ian Hockley, Course Manager at Royal Ascot Golf Club, said the investment will help his team realise the course’s true playing potential regardless of weather extremities.

“We’re increasingly seeing extreme stretches of dry and wet weather, which naturally makes our job as greenkeepers more challenging,” said Ian.

“This is a significant and necessary investment as golf clubs across the UK seek to deliver year-round quality playing experiences to members and guests alike.

“Having access to the latest machinery and technology is a huge advantage in our ability to achieve this, and aligns with the club’s ambitious growth plans which led to our Club of the Year award which everyone is extremely proud of.

“We’ve just completed the club’s biggest course upgrade since our relocation from the racecourse in 2005. To be in a position where we’re continuing to be at the forefront of greenkeeping improvements is a really pleasing way to start 2026.”

The investment includes the completion of the club’s major course regeneration project costing £500,000 to transform each of its 18 holes.

Each hole is now subject to enhanced drainage and irrigation provisions, while all bunkers have been renovated and new treelines created – including the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Wood by Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

Stephen Nicholson, General Manager at Royal Ascot Golf Club, added: “We pride ourselves on delivering a welcoming, sociable, inclusive and quality experience to those who visit the club.

“Investing in the quality of our course is essential to achieving the above and we are thrilled with the outcomes of our course regeneration which has delivered outstanding results even for our holes that are most susceptible to the weather.

“We’ve experienced a breakthrough period on all levels which everyone at the club is extremely proud of and bodes well for another year of positive growth in 2026.”

Founded in 1887, Royal Ascot Golf Club was granted Royal status by Queen Victoria and is set in 150 acres of the woodland of Windsor Great Park off Winkfield Road and adjacent to the world-famous racecourse.

Further information about the club is available via www.royalascotgolfclub.co.uk.

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

La Finca Golf Resort a Premium Sustainable Agronomy Venue

/in , /by

La Finca Golf Resort a Premium Sustainable Agronomy Venue: The R&A has welcomed La Finca Resort as one of the select venues working with The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service under a premium venue support agreement. La Finca Golf is situated in Algorfa, Alicante, one of Spain’s most famous golfing destinations, and is known for its striking design and resort facilities.

The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service supports clubs worldwide with independent, science-led expertise, helping them to deliver long-term sustainability alongside outstanding course conditioning and playing performance.

La Finca Golf Resort a Premium Sustainable Agronomy Venue

La Finca Golf Resort a Premium Sustainable Agronomy Venue

Paul Woodham, Sustainable Agronomy Lead for Europe and GB&I at The R&A, said, “La Finca Resort is a fantastic addition to our growing sustainable agronomy portfolio. Its reputation as a premier Spanish golf destination, coupled with its ambition to lead in agronomic and greenkeeping best practice management and drive environmental sustainability, makes this a very exciting collaboration. We look forward to working with the La Finca Golf team to demonstrate how sustainable approaches can enhance quality and resilience for the benefit of golfers and the game.”

The R&A is internationally recognised for staging The Open, the AIG Women’s Open and elite amateur championships, while promoting long-term environmental responsibility across the sport.

Opened in 2002 and designed by the renowned José Gancedo, La Finca Golf, recently enhanced under the consultancy of architect Tim Lobb, has established itself as a benchmark in Spanish golf. Its wide fairways, signature greens and natural water hazards create a unique challenge for advanced amateurs and professionals alike. Over the years, the course has hosted European Junior Championships, Spanish Junior Championships, professional tour events, and national circuits.

Gonzalo Pedrera Martínez, CEO of La Finca Resort, commented, “Joining The R&A’s Sustainable Agronomy programme is a significant step forward for us. It reinforces our commitment to excellence in course presentation while ensuring that sustainability is central to our long-term strategy. We are proud to align with The R&A and contribute to shaping a future for golf that balances performance with responsibility.”

This partnership reflects a shared ambition to set new standards in course management and to strengthen the role of sustainability at the heart of world-class golf.

For information about The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service, please contact sustainableagronomy@randa.org or visit www.randa.org/sustainability/agronomy.

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