Tag Archive for: toro

Toro Teams Up with Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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Toro Teams Up with Commonwealth War Graves Commission: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has recently upgraded its grounds maintenance equipment with the acquisition of a Toro® Z Master® 8000 Series direct collect ride-on mower, supplied by Mowers & More.

The latest development in a decades-long relationship between Toro and the CWGC, this addition is set to enhance the upkeep of the Brookwood Military Cemetery near Woking, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom, covering 37 acres.

Toro Teams Up with Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Toro Teams Up with Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Matthew Coleman, Sales Manager Professional Landscape Contractor & Site Works Equipment at Toro U.K., commented: “The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has chosen the Toro Z Master 8000 Series for its advanced features, which are well-suited to the maintenance needs of their cemeteries. The 37-acre grounds at Brookwood Military Cemetery are meticulously maintained by the CWGC’s grounds team, and this machine’s features will make their job simpler and quicker than ever.”

The Toro Z Master 8000 Series is designed to provide efficient and effective maintenance, ensuring the cemetery grounds remain in pristine condition. The mower delivers low ground pressure, minimising turf damage, while the outfront mower deck allows for precise cutting in tight spaces. A high-capacity hopper reduces the need for frequent emptying, while zero-turn manoeuvrability is perfect for the cemetery’s varied terrain.

Reinforcing the relationship between the two partners, Toro UK invited the CWGC to spend a day at their Spellbrook facility. The day provided an opportunity to experience Toro’s broad portfolio, learn more about Toro and Hayter’s groundscare innovation and share further feedback and information.

The CWGC’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care for its cemeteries is evident in its choice of equipment. The Toro 8000 Series is designed to provide efficient and effective maintenance, ensuring that the grounds remain in pristine condition for visitors and to honour the memory of those who served.

For more information about the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and their work, visit www.cwgc.org. For details on the Toro Z Master 8000 Series and other products, visit www.toro.com/en-gb.

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The Ree.Turn of two popular Toro grounds mowers

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The Ree.Turn of two popular Toro grounds mowers: Reesink Turfcare is delighted to announce the return of two of the popular Toro grounds mowers – the Groundsmaster 7210 and the Groundsmaster 1200.

Jon Cole, Business Development Manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “Customers of the Groundsmaster 7210 will be pleased to hear it is now available with an engine upgrade and the Groundsmaster 1200 returns after a post-pandemic production pause.”

The Ree.Turn of two popular Toro grounds mowers

The Ree.Turn of two popular Toro grounds mowers

As a versatile zero-turn, the Groundsmaster 7210 has always impressed customers with its

dependable and economical diesel engine performance, this was something verified by independent machinery tester James de Havilland, so the news of an upgrade to a powerful Yanmar 36.8hp (27.4kW) 3-cylinder engine, which brings a 48.38 percent increase in power, will certainly ensure a continued decent performance.

The rest of the features customers liked so much about this machine remain: a tight wheelbase, power steering and individual steering brakes allowing for expert handling and increased productivity.

The durable, heavy-duty seven-gauge welded steel cutting deck construction and the industry’s toughest spindle assembly ensure a long life while tackling the toughest of groundscare jobs with ease.

It is the small area zero-turn rotary mower that doesn’t believe in a day off and is now available from Reesink with the option of either a 62- or 72-inch deck.

Making another welcome return is the Groundsmaster 1200. This pull-behind rotary mower didn’t need any upgrades, it was already the perfect solution to leverage other equipment and add versatility to a tractor.

Productivity is at its core offering the mowing ability to cut up to 8.73 acres/h at 6mph per hour. And the cut is consistent and even across the entire width of the mower while distributing clippings evenly, which is especially important in areas with taller grass which are not mowed as often. When combined with the dual roller design it delivers a high-quality cut and rich turf striping in most conditions.

Size is a key advantage of the Groundsmaster 1200. Together, three independent contour-following cutting decks offer a 12-foot (3.66m) width of cut to mow more grass in less time than it would take with a smaller mower. And transport between sites is convenient and fast with the wing decks folding up for faster transport to reduce machine width to a narrow 88 inches (223.5cm).

Jon continues: “These models were popular for good reason. They are productive, durable, and offer a superior cut. We’re delighted to now have them available again for our customers.”

For further information, or to place an order, call 01480 226800 or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

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Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro: Hayling Golf Club on the south coast of England has upgraded its machinery fleet with a significant investment in Toro.

Driving the decision was the club’s masterplan for course improvements created by renowned Golf Architect Tom Mackenzie to raise its profile as one of the top links courses on the south coast.

Hayling's masterplan includes Toro

Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

“We have a clear blueprint to follow over the next few years and have our sights set on becoming a top 100 golf course,” says Course Manager Graeme Roberts. “We know success is reliant on having the right resources available and having worked with all the major turfcare machinery brands I knew Toro would be the choice to raise the bar and present a true links course for visitors to experience Hayling at its best.”

The purchase was structured by Toro distributor Reesink Turfcare and its financial partner, Novuna, to give the club control of its budget, forecasting every payment for the next five years.

Graeme continues: “When Steve Slinger, our new general manager, joined the club in February 2024, he was keen to prioritise what we needed to get the course where it needs to be. Once we’d put together the fleet list, we needed to safeguard that so other priorities didn’t delay or prevent us from getting the equipment, which can happen sometimes at golf clubs. The planned purchase and payment schedule suit our objectives.”

The Workman MDX Lithium, Toro’s latest addition to its hugely popular and successful utility vehicle range, headlines the new fleet and complements the heavy-duty HDX Workman, also included in the order.

“The MDX Lithium is ideal for a busy club like ours. There were 48,000 rounds of golf played here last year so maintenance has to happen while there is play going on and as a Site of Special Scientific Interest reduced noise pollution is a key objective of ours. The MDX Lithium is quiet and quick, meaning there’s little interruption for visitors or disruption to wildlife.

“This is our first time having a lithium-powered electric vehicle and in a way it’s a trial to see how we get on and if electric mowers should form part of our future. So far, it’s looking promising especially with the reliability and build quality of Toro.”

The fairways will be cut with Toro’s Reelmaster 3555-D mowers which Graeme chose for their light footprint, low centre of gravity and smooth, turf-friendly slick tyres. These are perfectly suited to Hayling as a links course, says Graeme.

“The course is built on shingle, and we want to promote fine grasses, which can be challenging for a site with limited water resources which dries out quickly. It’s like these mowers were specifically designed with these conditions in mind, delivering a delicate cut with no turf damage.”

The greens have been taken good care of by the Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420 for 13 years and there was no intention to change that, and for the surrounds, the Reelmaster 3550-D joins the club, chosen for its wide cut for enhanced efficiencies.

Peter Cornwall, Area Sales – Turfcare Equipment for the Reesink South East branch, comments: “It’s a priviledge to be working with and supporting Hayling with the machinery they need to improve the course and raise their profile. This is a comprehensive package deal and all the choices Graeme and the team made will make a valuable contribution to that.”

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Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

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Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet: Mar Hall Golf and Spa Resort near Glasgow is continuing its investment in its 18-hole championship golf course with a significant fleet update from Toro and Reesink Scotland.

Head Greenkeeper Andrew Eckford, who joined the club last year in a senior management recruitment drive alongside a new Head of Golf, had a focus on multi-functional machinery as he planned the new additions to join in the multi-million-pound course renovation.

Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

Bringing with him 13 years’ experience and countless tournament credentials to the job, the initial projects requiring focus were building back grass coverage on the greens and repairs to all bunkers with a total sand replacement.

Andrew explains: “When I first started, nearly half of the greens were covered in moss. We’ve been steadily reducing that and implementing a structured maintenance plan with regular aeration, seeding, and top-dressing to restore both the greens and fairways to their former glory.”

The Toro ProCore 648s aerator, Workman HDX utility vehicle with ProPass topdresser and sprayer and a selection of trusted greens mowers will be instrumental in this recovery work.

“Efficiency is key,” says Andrew. “I wanted a versatile utility vehicle that could handle multiple turf maintenance jobs throughout the month, rather than investing in a separate Multi Pro sprayer or a top dresser that would only be used occasionally. This solution delivers exceptional value and ensures our greens are maintained to the highest standard.”

The same thought process applied to his decision to bring in the Toro Outcross. This powerhouse of a product also does the work of a tractor, and its functionality and versatility give it the ability to replace two or three pieces of equipment and is what most appealed to Andrew.

“The Outcross will be at the heart of our day-to-day operations and ensures we’re future-proofing essential tasks,” Andrew explains. “Its programmable attachment parameters mean we can add blowers and verti-drainers, yet our seasonal staff only need to be trained on one machine rather than multiple pieces of equipment. It’s a smarter, more efficient way of working.”

Also, part of the investment is the Sand Pro bunker rake, a game-changer for bunker maintenance. “I wanted to bring the same high standards we had at The Carrick, where we raked bunkers daily, something I believe should be the norm,” says Andrew. “But with the scale of our course, hand-raking would take six of us an entire day. With the Sand Pro, one operator can get the job done efficiently, even after adding 1,400 tons of new sand.”

When it came to who to partner with was it always going to be Toro? “Always,” confirms Andrew. “We’re focused on elevating Mar Hall’s golf course and putting it back on the Scottish golfing map. That means using the best equipment available. Most greenkeepers have a go-to brand, and for me, that’s always been Toro, it’s simply a step above. I’m fortunate to have the full support of the management and owners in selecting what we need to do the job right, and with Toro, we also have the added benefit of working with Reesink Scotland.”

Discover how choosing Toro could benefit your course by calling distributor Reesink Turfcare at 01480 226800, emailing info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visiting reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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The Toro prize that opens global doors

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The Toro prize that opens global doors: The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award is one of the turfcare industry’s most coveted prizes for young professionals. And for the 2024 winner Jack Vowell it’s been more than just a career milestone, it’s opened global doors and unlocked exciting new opportunities. 

Jack completed his 10-week place at the University of Massachusetts’ Winter School for Turf Managers, an internationally recognised turf management course, in March 2025. The fully funded prize, which is sponsored by Reesink Turfcare and Toro, covers a variety of turf sports, not just golf, giving its students a holistic view of the turfcare industry.

The Toro prize that opens global doors

The Toro prize that opens global doors

Students study a carefully curated curriculum of modules, covering everything from the fundamentals of turf management and soil science to turf pathology and weed management.

“It was really interesting learning about different turf conditions around the world,” says Jack. “Since Massachusetts is a cool-season grass area in the US, there was a lot that I learned which I can now use in my current role as Deputy Course Manager at Farrington Park Golf Club.“I particularly enjoyed the turf pathology lessons; they were eye-opening and taught us all about the causes and contributing factors of different diseases. It was great to learn from guest lecturers about how those at the top of their game manage their teams to get the best results.”

The course gave Jack exposure to other up-and-coming greenkeepers as well as top professionals within the field, he says: “Alongside the learning, it was an opportunity to be in the same room and talk with people from all over the world, about their goals and greenkeeping careers. One of the guest lecturers was the Head Superintendent at Oakmont Country Club in America. I never would have had the opportunity to listen to him, learn from his expertise, and ask him questions about greenkeeping.”

Despite being a remote course, UMass encourages a strong sense of community with the students. “The university was really keen to make you feel like the class of ‘25,” explains Jack. “They put a lot of emphasis on us sharing information with our classmates and making sure we were connected.

“I became friendly with a greenkeeper at Fenway Park in the US, which is home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team. He’s left the door open for me to experience the ground there and learn about how they look after their turf. Opening international doors like this is just invaluable.”

For those considering applying to The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award for 2025, Jack highly recommends it: “The opportunities are endless once your name’s out there. Off the back of the award, I’ve joined the BIGGA regional board as vice chair and have attended national board meetings, which is a huge step forward for my career.”

Entries for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards for 2025 are now open. For more details and how to apply, head to reesinkturfcare.co.uk/students-awards. Entries are open from 1 March to 11 April 2025.

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