Tag Archive for: Leads

Toro irrigation leads longevity

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Toro irrigation leads longevity: Longevity has been key to Toro’s irrigation strategy since its early development and it’s certainly something Reesink Hydro-Scapes can attest to seeing ‘on the ground’ in the UK.

As the sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf and sports fields irrigation products, Robert Jackson, manager of Reesink Hydro-Scapes, the distributor’s water division, is only now, after 30 years working in the business, needing to help the clubs he worked with in the early days of his career to update their Toro systems.

Toro irrigation leads longevity

Toro irrigation leads longevity

“Looking back through the orders books and from experience we can attest to Toro’s longevity and length of performance the systems get at UK golf clubs,” he says. “For us to see Toro giving up to 30 years of service is testament to the quality, technology, craftmanship and construction of the products.”

But it’s more than that, it’s as much to do with the design, installation, maintenance, and servicing of the system too, and that’s where Reesink Hydro-Scapes and its network of irrigation contractors step in to create the perfect partnership with Toro.

Rob continues: “There’s a reason it takes time to fit a brand-new irrigation system, and that’s because it’s being done properly. The phrase Rome wasn’t built in a day couldn’t ring more true than when it comes to this – it takes time to create great things – and if it doesn’t, it usually means corners have been cut.

“Replacing or updating an irrigation system is a big job, it’s timely and disruptive work and could mean months of delays to play,” Robert says. “There’s no escaping it but the point is that when you do it you want to know that the system you choose has got the best shelf life possible and proven longevity. And that’s never in doubt with Toro. Do it properly now and don’t think about it for another two to three decades.”

Plus, with Reesink’s irrigation finance options clubs don’t even need to pay now. Reesink can spread the cost of new irrigation systems over tailored plans to give better control over operational budgets and stabilise costs in the face of fluctuating market conditions.

“We understand the outlay of a new irrigation system is significant and we don’t believe that should stop anyone accessing the best options available,” Robert concludes. “Irrigation finance does just that and includes not just the products but the installation too.”

To find out more about how the longevity of Toro and service from Reesink unite to bring the best value irrigation solutions, call Reesink Hydro-Scapes on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkhydro-scapes.co.uk.

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Outstanding Service leads to an Outstanding Surface

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Outstanding Service leads to an Outstanding Surface: After intensive in-house operations to relieve severe compaction failed to deliver the desired results, the decision was made to undertake a full renovation on one of the pitches at Hove Prep School in Sussex.

Word of mouth led Grounds and Gardens Manager Adam Bedson to speak with AMS Contracting Ltd who he cites, from the outset, delivered outstanding customer service and confidence in their capability to fix the situation to the standards required – which they did, to the satisfaction of the school and pupils alike!

Outstanding Service leads to an Outstanding Surface

Outstanding Service leads to an Outstanding Surface

Hove Prep School is one of three sites belonging to Lancing College, with its own sports facilities supporting a packed programme of year-round play and coaching. “It became evident that years of overuse had contributed to severe compaction problems that became almost impossible to recover” explains Adam, who has been at the college since 2019. “Kit we hired failed to rectify the problem so we reached out to Ashley and Myles Strange at AMS who immediately put us at ease.”

“Having not conducted a project of this scale for a good number of years the Bursar naturally had a lot of questions, which the AMS team answered in-depth and in a timely manner. The level of care and knowledge shown definitely helped to secure the funding we needed to get the project underway in the summer of 2023.”

The full pitch renovation included surface removal, soil profile upgrade, laser-levelling, seeding and nutritional programme, conducted by a team of four operatives under the guidance of Ashley and Myles. “We felt in safe hands every step of the way. What really stood out for me was the hours the team were prepared to work – on site from sunrise and non-stop until the early evening. They understood our need to get the work, which also included renovating our cricket square, complete in the window available in order to get the surfaces back into play as quickly as possible.”

The results, Adam says, speak for themselves. “Within seven days we went from a sandy field to seeing the green hue of germination. Since then, we’ve nurtured the pitch to full strength and coverage and the pupils are now enjoying playing on it.” He continues, “This wet start to winter has also highlighted how incredibly well the pitch drains now. Within an hour of the rain stopping, the pitch is playable which was previously unheard of.”

“The sports staff are over the moon and everybody is really invested in protecting the asset we now have. The success of this project signals the start of a fantastic partnership between ourselves and AMS Contracting, and we’re already in touch with the team about what’s next!”

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GPS sprayer leads step change in philosophy

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GPS sprayer leads step change in philosophy: A major overhaul of equipment and the adoption of cutting-edge technology is driving a new, long-term strategy at The Leicestershire Golf Club (TLGC).

Led by Course Manager, Steve Hardy, and backed up by the club’s management committee, the grounds team is now able to perform their roles to a higher level while also making significant efficiency gains.

Steve only took over the role in July 2021, joining TLGC from The Warwickshire where he was Assistant Course Manager.

It took him just a few months to oversee a transformation of the club’s machinery shed which he says is already having a significant impact on how the course plays, and how the club is run.

Out has gone the aging machinery which was costing the club tens of thousands of pounds every year in repairs and maintenance.

In its place has come a fleet of new John Deere kit which Steve says is saving time and money while also giving the team the tools to do the best job possible.

“When I came in, I wanted to make improvements but there were lots of issues that needed resolving so it was a case of prioritising,” Steve said.

“The machinery fleet was old and inefficient – breakdowns were happening all the time and it was taking days to get the parts to be back up and running.

“The team was spending hours cutting the course and it still wasn’t looking the best it could because the tools they were using were letting them down.”

Steve proposed sweeping changes. Within weeks he had organised demonstrations with major brands of the mowers, sprayers and utility vehicles he felt the club needed.

“The club was moving from purchasing machinery and hoping it would last for 20 years to a five to seven-year strategy so, financially, it’s been a big ask for them,” he said.

“But the communication between us and the members was good. The old budget meant the money we had wasn’t enough to do some basic maintenance or buy the necessary amount of fertiliser we need.

“We brought the committee down to the shed and showed them the old machinery next to the new stuff and it was a no-brainer. The club wanted a plan with no surprises and this is what they now have.”

Working with Jacob Shellis from John Deere dealer Farol, Steve ordered four 2750 Precision Cut greens mowers, two 7500A fairway mowers, a 9009 Terrain Cut for roughs and surrounds, and a HPX Gator for picking up on the driving range and general course transport.

But the stand-out purchase for Steve is the HD200 GPS precision sprayer which has revolutionised the way the team applies herbicides, fungicides and fertilisers.

The 757-litre capacity PrecisionSprayer is based on Deere’s ProGator heavy-duty utility vehicle chassis and is packed full of technology such as AutoTrac, which guides the machine for the operator, and automatic section control to turn on and shut off individual nozzles.

This means spraying greens becomes far more accurate as there is no overlap or non-target areas sprayed with expensive chemicals.

Steve estimates that he is now spraying at least 30% less chemical, purely due to the accuracy of the machine – his chemical budget for disease control has already been reduced to reflect the change.

“The sprayer is getting a huge amount of use. Just on greens, we’re spraying once a week with a wetting agent, a fertiliser, or a growth regulator,” he said. “In peak season it will be out working most days.

“Previously the job was contracted out so we were bound by the weather and the availability of someone to come and do the job. Now, if we get a gap, we can go out whenever the conditions are right.

“This is our first year using the sprayer and compared to other clubs in the area we came out pretty clean. A lot of that will be down to good planning but the chemical going down at exactly the right rate in exactly the right place has to have had an effect too.”

Alongside accuracy and convenience, Steve says he appreciates the time saving.

“Using automated spraying records is great,” he said. “They are generated as soon as a task has been completed.

“With the option of downloading them immediately from your iPhone, this takes a lot of time away from the admin side of things and ensures complete compliance.”

All the new machines are fitted with Modular Telematics Gateways (MTG) receivers, allowing Steve to track the status and performance of each model. The fully connected fleet is also remotely monitored by Farol so, when scheduled maintenance is required, TLGC is contacted without needing to act.

The information is fed to the John Deere Operations Center and so far, shows a great step forward in efficiency.

Steve said: “By allocating tasks from a computer or phone to each operator on a machine, they just go from job to job which has cut idle time down to below 6%.

“We are able to share all this information with the club, so they know exactly what’s going on among the greenkeeping team.”

The six-strong team of greenkeepers are happy with their new tools, and the two trained sprayer operators have adopted the technology quickly.

Steve said: “There is plenty more to be getting on with here but the new machinery is a huge step forward. The committee is very proud of it and my team is very happy.

“This has solved the problems we faced in the main season and now we can move on to our next priority, which is irrigation.”

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When red leads the green revolution

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When red leads the green revolution: How green are the UK’s golf clubs? If the number of those approaching Reesink Turfcare about its all-electric and hybrid mowing and utility vehicle range from Toro is anything to go by, then the answer is they’re making the green machinery choice wherever possible.

The latest case in point is Fulwell Golf Club in Middlesex who has set itself the goal to be the most sustainable club in the county and, through its machinery choices, boost its relationship with the community.

When red leads the green revolution

When red leads the green revolution

Director of golf, Peter Hall, explains: “The reasons for making the green choice were two-fold. We wanted to reduce our carbon footprint as well as bringing the club closer to the community and lessening the impact on our neighbours. We’re surrounded by residential houses and have certain restrictions for when we can work. Having all-electric and hybrid machines means we can mow early in the morning and cut the greens without disturbing anyone, increasing efficiency and productivity.

“We’re dedicated to improving our place in the community whilst producing great results and promoting sustainability at the club. Toro was the only partner to help us achieve that. It was fundamental to get the right equipment – you can only be as good as the machinery you have, and that’s the reason why we invested in Toro. They’re proven to have the best cut, quality and reliability on the market for their diesel mowers and lead the way with electric and hybrid technology.”

Fulwell’s team selected two Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 riding greensmowers, two Workman GTX Lithium-Ion utility vehicles, a Greensmaster e1021 pedestrian greensmower and the hybrid Reelmaster 5010-H fairway mower from the Toro range available from distributor Reesink Turfcare.

Course manager Ryan Bezzant, who has been at the club for just over four years and manages a team of eight full-time staff, explains why the time was right to bring in a Toro fleet, the club’s first: “Toro are market leaders and very good at what they do, so we felt confident that buying fully electric machines from them wouldn’t make us lose performance. And it’s proved to be true: they’re very efficient and cut just as well and as quickly as the diesel ones.”

Ryan says these choices have significantly improved operations, he continues: “We don’t have to worry about hydraulic fluids leaking and damaging the greens; there’s a lot less maintenance and it’s a lot cleaner too and charging is so easy – we just plug them in at the end of the day and they’re ready to go the next morning. The guys are over the moon with them.”

The club plans to continue to invest over the next two or three years in Toro with Reesink, as Ryan concludes: “We’re at full capacity at the moment with 100 golfers a day every day, seven days a week, and golf seems to be turning into an all-year round activity. Having the option of all-electric means we can mow whenever needed especially with the handmowers.

“We need to make sure the course is always kept at a high standard, and with Toro, we know it is. And we can’t fault Reesink, they’ve been very good with communication, making us aware of delivery times so it was easy to plan. We’re also hoping Toro will offer even more electric options in the future, as we’d like more now!”

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

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Jake leads the charge with offer at GCSAA

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Jake leads the charge with offer at GCSAA: Jacobsen is leading the charge at the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego with a line-up of electric lithium mowers and Cushman vehicles.

Forty percent of booth 2437 will feature electric lithium products as well as a full breadth of equipment, including the Eclipse 360 ELiTE, AR530, HM600 Flail mower, the Cushman Hauler PRO ELiTE, and PACE Technologies. Jacobsen will also be showing the first look at its electric lithium out front rotary concept.

Jake leads the charge with offer at GCSAA

Jake leads the charge with offer at GCSAA

Jacobsen’s push into fully electric machines began with the Eclipse range over a decade ago. In its latest lithium iteration, the Eclipse 360 ELiTE has been put to the test all over the world, tackling the challenges of Irish links golf at Hogs Head and Waterville golf clubs as well as proving its championship credentials at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Golf Club and Lodge.

Live product walkarounds from the engineers that designed this machine will be combined with video testimonials from the Superintendents that have used it to give a 360-degree view of Jacobsen’s most elite machine yet.

International marketing manager for Jacobsen, Adam Underwood, explains that the Eclipse 360 ELiTE is only the first step in Jake’s electric journey and that there is more to come at the GCSAA Trade Show.

“Our electric journey started with the Eclipse, but what we really created is momentum,” Adam explains. “We’ve spent more than 15 million hours on this journey with lithium technology, and we are excited to introduce our new prototype lithium out front rotary mower to the delegates at the GCSAA Trade Show.

“This is likely to be the first opportunity Superintendents have had to see these new machines. We want them to experience it in person and then be transported to beautiful links courses in Ireland and the magnificent Bay Hill and witness the quality the Eclipse 360 can offer in every landscape.

“We are really looking forward to showing what we believe is the future of mowing and the innovations we have been working on for the lithium out front rotary mower.”

In addition to the in-booth activity, Jake is also partnering with the Equipment Manager Roundtable Power Hour from 8 am on Thursday 10, which will tackle the hottest issues in equipment management, including preventative maintenance issues, communication with your Superintendent, and mentoring the next generation of technicians.

A workshop on Understanding Mowing Technology, Quality of Cut, and After Cut Appearance Issues is another seminar partnered by Jake. Starting at 8 am on Thursday 10, this seminar will explore the vital relationships between reel mower applications, quality of cut, and after cut appearance.

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