Tag Archive for: Royal

Royal Mail makes electric move with Paxster

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Royal Mail makes electric move with Paxster: BOSS Off-Road Vehicles, Paxster’s UK distributor, has announced Royal Mail has taken a major step towards decarbonising its delivery operations, deploying over 100 micro electric vehicles (MEVs) across the UK. This is part of its journey to reach net zero emissions by 2040 and to reduce delivery times.

Eighty-four of these vehicles are supplied by the Norwegian manufacturer Paxster, now becoming a central partner in one of Europe’s largest and most ambitious fleet transitions.

Royal Mail makes electric move with Paxster

Royal Mail makes electric move with Paxster

In the first deployment phase, 52 larger vans are being replaced by compact electric vehicles operating in cities including London, Bristol, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Brighton. The shift is expected to reduce emissions by around 242 tonnes of CO₂ annually, while improving air quality and delivery flow in dense urban areas.

Aleksander Säfvenbom, Managing Director at Paxster AS, says:

“Royal Mail conducted extensive trials of multiple MEVs before selecting Paxster. Their decision to scale with our vehicles confirms that the Paxster platform meets the real operational needs of postal fleets: easy charging from standard sockets, excellent manoeuvrability, safety, security, comfort for the driver and low TCO.”

Royal Mail’s rollout shows how MEVs can complement larger e-van fleets to optimise last-mile delivery, particularly in cities facing congestion, access restrictions and limited charging capacity. The results are now drawing attention from postal and parcel operators across Europe, who are looking for scalable, low-infrastructure solutions to accelerate fleet electrification. Aleksander adds:

“Many operators face the same reality as Royal Mail. They need to deliver faster, cleaner and more efficiently in increasingly crowded cities. MEVs are becoming a vital tool in achieving that balance between sustainability, productivity and profitability.”

With the Royal Mail partnership, Paxster reinforces its position as one of Europe’s leading providers of electric vehicles for postal and parcel distribution. The company continues to expand its presence across several European markets as operators move from pilots to full-scale deployment of purpose-built MEV fleets.

For more information on Paxster you can call BOSS ORV on 01785 561046 E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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Royal Dornoch and its total Toro solution

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Royal Dornoch and its total Toro solution: In the highlands of Scotland Royal Dornoch is celebrating the handover of a £1.5 million Toro irrigation system for the Struie Course and the arrival of a fleet of all-electric ride-on Toro Greensmaster mowers and Workman utility vehicles.

Termed a ‘Toro Total Solutions’ customer when both Toro irrigation and machinery are selected for the complete care of the course, Royal Dornoch has been a loyal Toro customer of both for decades.

Royal Dornoch and its total Toro solution

Royal Dornoch and its total Toro solution

Replacing the irrigation on the Struie Course with a future-proof solution had been in discussion for many years. The club had acquired 50 acres of land with plans to build additional holes, including a new par‑3, and needed an irrigation infrastructure capable of supporting an expanded layout.

For this purpose, the club specified Lynx Smart Control System, Infinity 35 Multi Trajectory sprinklers, Infinity 55 Dual and Multi Trajectory sprinklers and 590G sprinklers with Precision Rotating Nozzles for the 18-hole course.

Explaining the reasons behind this decision General Manager Neil Hampton says, “The new system provides a robust and flexible backbone for current maintenance and new turf in future course development. It will be much better on the sustainability front: we won’t be using more water; the system will allow us to target where water is needed and control application from mobile phones and laptops.”

With the system operational since the beginning of 2025, Course Manager Eoin Riddell can confirm: “It’s already saving our greenkeepers a huge amount of time and effort; it makes watering so efficient. The benefits are significant all round – it’s good ecologically, financially and from an agronomy perspective, too.”

Robert Jackson, Division Manager at Reesink Hydro-Scapes, says, “So many people came together to ensure the smooth installation for Royal Dornoch: Adrian Mortram Associates, the installation team from Ocmis, Simon Squires from Toro and us as distributor. It’s credit to all involved that the project was completed on time and on budget.”

Meanwhile, the continuing choice of Toro machinery is down to its reliability, consistency and quality, says Neil: “Toro performs all day, every day for us. It takes a lot of stress away knowing you do not have to worry about that aspect of the business.

“We’ve always been able to trust Toro. There’s reliability in terms of performance as well as Toro always being at the forefront of new machinery research and development. As the expectations of golfers continue to increase, we need to provide the best conditions for play, and we can do that with Toro.”

The most recent machinery delivery includes four of the Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 mowers and eight Workman GTX Lithium-ion utility vehicles.

Eoin says, “We first invested in the electric Greensmaster eTriFlex when it launched in 2020 and they’ve proved year after year to be able to do the job we require with the benefit of being the sustainable option. Same with the utility vehicles. These machines are now a staple in our fleet.

“As well as all the previous reasons stated, the back up from Reesink is a big factor in our continuing loyalty, as is the interest that Toro shows in how we use the equipment.”

Mike Turnbull, Reesink Scotland Branch Manager, concludes: “We’re in a privileged position to understand Royal Dornoch’s requirements having worked with them for so long, and it’s a continuing pleasure to be able to support them as they maintain the high standards and move forward with exciting projects that will benefit the club for years to come.”

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Royal Troon tunes Toro to perfection

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Royal Troon tunes Toro to perfection: One year after The Open Championship returned to Royal Troon, the club continues to raise the bar in turfcare excellence, with the help of Toro’s technology and Reesink support.

Since the excitement of the tournament, Course Manager Billy McLachlan and his team have focused on rebuilding, recovery, and long-term improvements. With the crowds gone, infrastructure dismantled and grass beneath repaired, attention has turned to machine performance and precision.

Royal Troon tunes Toro to perfection

Royal Troon tunes Toro to perfection

“Hosting The Open again was a great experience and bigger than ever, with over 250,000 visitors,” says Billy. “I’ve got a great team, and the support from Toro and Reesink was first class.”

In the build up to the tournament, Head Mechanic, Davy Mclelland, began adjusting the club’s Toro fleet daily, testing settings like height-of-cut and cylinder speeds to achieve the best possible finish.

That attention to detail has continued since The Open, and is now part of daily practice: “Davy is a brilliant mechanic,” says Billy. “He’s measuring factors like height of cut and cylinder speed; if the speed is too fast, for instance, you’re not giving the blade enough time to make contact with the leaf.

“It all comes back to a simple question: What’s the best way of cutting and how can we do that? We’ve benchmarked data for all these settings, so we know what’s working, why it’s working, and how to adjust our cutting methods accordingly.”

As Reesink’s Product Specialist, Alastair Black, explains, this level of precision is rare: “Most clubs adjust settings a few times a season. But Troon is doing it on an almost daily basis, and the results show.

“We run training courses to help clubs like Troon get the most out of their Toro cutting units. Factory settings are a great starting point. But understanding how to tailor them to your turf can take your surfaces to another level.”

Troon’s mechanical team has also attended Reesink’s Turfcare Mechanics course, which Billy says is integral to the job: “Training is everything. We already had the machines running well, but learning from the experts took our results even further.

“To be good at this job, you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears open – and always be willing to learn,” he concludes. “That’s one thing that will always be a vital part of Troon, our team, and our success.”

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Machinery further raises the standard at Royal Aberdeen

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Machinery further raises the standard at Royal Aberdeen: Machinery and management is working in tandem to elevate one of the world’s top 70 courses.

After more than two decades steadily climbing the ranks at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, Richard Johnstone took on a fresh challenge in 2024—one that placed him at the helm of one of the most historic and revered links courses in the world.

Machinery further raises the standard at Royal Aberdeen

Machinery further raises the standard at Royal Aberdeen

As course manager at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, he is leading an ambitious programme of enhancement and innovation that is both respectful of tradition and responsive to the evolving demands of modern golf.

The move was a natural progression for Richard, who brought with him not only a wealth of greenkeeping experience but also a clear, strategic vision.

During the job application process, he impressed with a detailed redevelopment plan that analysed every aspect of the course, from greens and fairways to tees and approaches – and the machinery used to action this – demonstrating a deep understanding of what it would take to push an already world-class venue to the next level.

Since his arrival, Richard has been implementing that plan with a keen focus on long-term sustainability and high-level presentation.

One of the first major projects was addressing a fleet of ageing machinery that was beginning to show its limitations. After extensive testing and staff consultation, the club committed to a five-year lease on a full suite of John Deere machinery—a decision that has already paid dividends.

The new fleet, which includes walk-behind greens mowers, fairway units, compact tractors, utility vehicles, and a GPS-guided sprayer, represents a significant upgrade in both capability and efficiency. While the kit is relatively new to the team, its reliability and ease of use have already helped instill a renewed sense of pride and professionalism among the greenkeeping staff.

Technology now plays a central role in daily operations. Through the John Deere Operations Center, Richard and his team can monitor performance, track machine usage, and plan maintenance schedules with far greater accuracy than before.

The club’s in-house mechanic oversees this data, ensuring that the equipment is not only used optimally but maintained to the highest standards.

Richard is also a firm believer in empowering his team with knowledge. He places strong emphasis on training and communication, helping staff make the most of modern tools such as soil sensors, moisture meters, and weather apps—resources that are increasingly essential in fine-tuning course conditions.

Part of his passion was fuelled by what he experienced at TPC Sawgrass in 2017 when he was selected to be part of the BIGGA volunteer programme, sponsored by John Deere.

With just 10 full-time greenkeepers responsible for both Royal Aberdeen and the adjacent Aberdeen Ladies Course, staffing has historically been a challenge. But under Richard’s guidance, the team is beginning to grow, with plans to add additional staff each year to meet rising expectations and visitor numbers.

“There’s no off-season here,” says Richard. “From early spring, we welcome golfers from around the world—many of whom have travelled great distances and invested heavily in their visit. The course must reflect that level of commitment.”

Looking ahead, Royal Aberdeen is working with world-renowned golf architects on a five-year improvement plan that will address not only course enhancements but also the ongoing threat of coastal erosion. This environmental challenge is a key consideration in the club’s future strategy, and one that Richard is tackling head-on—with sustainability a core part of the solution.

The new machinery plays a vital role in that commitment. The GPS sprayer helps reduce chemical use through precision targeting, while features like electric reel motors on the greens mowers cut fuel consumption.

Combined with solar power and the club’s existing GEO certification, it’s all part of a broader push to ensure that Royal Aberdeen remains not only a premier golf destination, but a responsible steward of the environment.

Major tournaments are also on the horizon, with the Scottish Amateur Championship set for 2026 and discussions underway for a major event to mark the club’s 250th anniversary in 2030.

For Richard, these milestones are markers on a longer journey—a mission to continually raise standards, invest in people, and evolve a historic course for the demands of tomorrow’s game.

“It’s about elevating everything—our team, our practices, and the course itself,” he says. “With the right tools, and the right mindset, there’s no reason we can’t set a new benchmark for links golf.”

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Royal Jersey GC recovers after devastating fire

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Royal Jersey GC recovers after devastating fire: Royal Jersey Golf Club has overcome a catastrophic fire, which destroyed much of the club’s greenkeeping buildings and equipment, with vital support from Reesink Turfcare, Toro, and local supplier JFTU. Now, with a fresh fleet of Toro machinery and new and improved facilities, the club’s future looks brighter than ever.

The fire, which broke out in the early hours of May 20th 2023, wiped out the club’s welfare building, workshop, and 15 Toro machines. As Course Manager, Allan Black, remembers: “I arrived at four in the morning to a disaster. It looked like a scene from a war film. Equipment wise, we’d lost everything required for cutting greens and approaches, plus six electric trucks and most of our tools.”

Royal Jersey GC recovers after devastating fire

Royal Jersey GC recovers after devastating fire

Fortunately, some equipment was spared, which allowed Allan and his greenkeeping team to continue hand cutting greens and tees on foot while adjusting the height of the cut as needed, while they worked on a recovery plan. But being the start of the season, they had to act fast.

“I contacted Andy Brown at Toro, who put me in touch with Jon Cole, Reesink’s Divisional Business Manager,” Allan explains. “With the help of John Renouf, General Manager at JFTU, they put together a plan for renewing the fleet. 

“Jon reassured me Reesink could quickly source two Workman utility vehicles and a Toro Greensmaster 3400. It was a huge relief because now we could get around the course and maintain our greens.”

By August 2023, the club had received six Toro Workman GTX vehicles. Over the next 12 months, Reesink delivered a Greensmaster 3250, five Greensmaster Flex 1021 walk-behind greens mowers, and three Toro Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 hybrid greensmowers, enabling the club to rebuild its course maintenance capabilities.

“Reesink did all this while supporting Royal Liverpool in the build up to The Open and against a machinery backlog and long lead times,” Allan continues. “Without their support, the club would have struggled and we might have had to shut the course. We couldn’t be more grateful for Reesink, Toro, and JFTU.”

Allan is feeling optimistic about the future. “We’re now back to a full fleet,” he says. “Three mowers are still at JFTU, awaiting transfer to our new mower sheds, which will be ready by the end of March. Once complete, we’ll see staff morale soar and our 1000-plus members will see that reflected in the course.

“It goes to show that even the most dire circumstances can turn around and bring people together. Ultimately, our club, members, and partners like Reesink and JFTU are closer now than ever,” Allan concludes. 

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