Tag Archive for: toro

Toro guarding the resource at Royal County Down

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Toro guarding the resource at Royal County Down: Delivery met expectations, when Toro, Reesink Hydro-Scapes, Adrian Mortram Associates and MJ Abbott Limited united to provide Royal County Down Golf Club with a new system to redefine the areas of irrigation and act as a guardian of the resource in a project about as big as it gets in the UK.

The preservation of the traditional links conditions of Royal County Down in Northern Ireland is of paramount importance to Links Manager Eamonn Crawford and his team, who adhere to a strict links maintenance programme.

Toro guarding the resource at Royal County Down

Toro guarding the resource at Royal County Down

The club needed an efficient state-of-the-art irrigation system for its fairways, greens, tees, and pathways to be used as a management tool and in times of drought. More control over application and better management of the resource was needed, and it was important to use water conservatively, only irrigating the surfaces required.

David Morgan, Secretary at Royal County Down, says: “We have a social responsibility to manage our water usage, as well as an obligation to the course and our members to present it as a traditional links course. This requires a certain level of irrigation control and precision to keep it alive but not green.”

Eamonn and David had done their due diligence in terms of brand comparisons before specialist irrigation designer and consultant, Adrian Mortram from Adrian Mortram Associates, tendered for the project and Adrian was instructed to gear the irrigation system specification plans entirely towards Toro.

“Having the best technology and resources available is essential to ensure we deliver our links maintenance programme effectively and efficiently and to the best of our capabilities,” says Eamonn. “There was never any doubt that Toro and Reesink were the partners for us in that respect.”

Toro Lynx Central Control system and Smart Hub were specified and Robert Jackson, Divisional Manager, Reesink Hydro-Scapes, explains this provided Eamonn “with all the data needed to make decisions in real-time and run the system with precision from the first sprinkler to the last, controlling the application of water on different areas with different conditions and requirements.”

Toro Infinity and Flex sprinklers were chosen to provide accurate and precise watering from the source and installation ran simultaneously on both 18-hole courses over winter 2023, the wettest season and hardest winter in 25 years. The effects of this on working conditions for the installation teams were not to be underestimated, especially when adding the terrain of a links course to the situation.

But that didn’t affect delivery as David says: “Overall delivery met expectations. All parties came together seamlessly to deliver Royal County Down with an irrigation solution to the budget and timescale set.”

This system, its design and installation are a classic example of how to redefine the areas of irrigation to act as a guardian of the resource. Through technology, the club has increased its area of irrigation but uses less water and wetting agents and now water can be retained in the low structure of the course.

“Now, we have full control in managing the system and water application,” says Eamonn. “There’s no wastage and we only use what is needed where it’s needed. Irrigation really is made easy with Toro and this is the best system at this time and the process has been well worth it.”

Jim Price from MJ Abbott Limited concludes: “This is now a fully connected course in real-time. To deliver a project of this magnitude in those conditions on time is a huge success story.”

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Hampden Park chooses Toro lithium machines

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Hampden Park chooses Toro lithium machines: Electric mowing has arrived at Hampden Park, Scotland’s national stadium, bringing everything Stephen Bache, Head Groundsman, could want from the next generation of turfcare technology.

It was a case of when not if this new way of mowing would arrive at Scotland’s national stadium in Glasgow, and as a long-term Toro machinery and irrigation customer, it’s no surprise the brand trusted to deliver the cutting-edge technology is Toro.

Reducing emissions is a key part of almost all sustainability strategies and with the industry being encouraged to unite in a bid to reduce environmental impact, choosing battery-powered or hybrid machines is one small but significant step now that can result in a huge impact later.

The Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 lithium-ion battery powered ride-on greensmower is the quietest mower there is and there are no emissions, pollution, or hydraulic leaks. Stephen says: “We want to provide the best possible surface for our players in the most sustainable way, but also, we are keen to play our part in the collective effort to make a credible contribution to the sustainable future for the next generations of football players and fans.

“This latest machinery order sees us continue doing that as we welcome battery powered mowers to our stadium for the first time and that is quite a milestone, but to us it was simply the next logical step and I hope we pave the way for others by demonstrating the capabilities and benefits electric mowing brings to responsible pitch management.”

Despite its new status at the stadium, the benefits are already being widely noticed says Stephen: “Toro quality is second to none. I’ve relied on it for 20 years. I know with Toro we’re going to get everything done right, meet the UEFA standards and conform to the rules reliably, first time around. So, I expected the quality of the cut from the eTriFlex to be outstanding and it is, but what’s stands out is just how convenient this method of mowing is.

“We’re an urban site southside of Glasgow with flats and houses neighbouring the stadium. Residents have been known to complain about mowing noise. The quietness of the eTriFlex almost takes you by surprise, a bit like an electric car when you don’t hear it coming up behind you, you genuinely can’t believe how quiet it is.”

Continuing with the benefits of noiseless mowing, Stephen can confirm how much easier it makes time management on match days: “There’s no rush with filming, interviews and broadcaster set up now, they can take as long as they need, and we work around them if needs be.”

Next up, Stephen can alleviate infrastructure concerns: “It wasn’t a problem for us and unless you’re buying a fleet of them, I can’t imagine it would be for anyone else. They use a standard socket and charge overnight, it’s very straightforward.”

The eTriFlex 3370 is part of a wider order from Toro distributor Reesink Scotland that includes electric utility vehicles, pedestrian mowers, a sprayer and the ProStripe known for its famous sports pitch striping effect.

With Stephen’s term in post at Hampden Park stretching back to 2002, he’s overseen many changes to the famous turf and now he’s presiding over a new era of new technology and mowing practises, and one that will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy.

To make a start on the journey towards reduced emissions, visit Reesink Turfcare at reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Toro leads the charge to OPE electrification

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Toro leads the charge to OPE electrification: Drawing on a century of expertise and engineering excellence, Toro has launched the Revolution Series, combining the brand’s proven outdoor power equipment (OPE) expertise with pioneering battery technology.

Aimed at groundskeeping, facilities maintenance, gardening and landscaping professionals, as well as municipal authorities, Toro’s Revolution Series delivers a more sustainable product with like-for-like performance with equivalent petrol or diesel machines.

With other significant benefits to the end user – including less direct exposure to carbon dioxide emissions and reduced noise and vibration – Toro has also launched a campaign promoting the benefits of switching to battery-powered outdoor equipment, called ‘Lead the Charge’.

Anthony Nadalin, director of marketing at The Toro Company said: “As one of the world’s leading manufacturers, we have a responsibility to drive decarbonisation in outdoor power equipment. For Toro, this means leading the charge from the front. We are a passionate advocate for this change and through our extensive range of electric-powered equipment, our focus is to meet the growing demands of outdoor maintenance professionals.”

As a global leader in outdoor power equipment, Toro’s ‘Lead the Charge’ campaign also helps highlight the savings that can be made by switching to all-electric OPE, as well as providing clear and accurate information about pricing and performance.

Lead the Charge aims to help owners and operators of commercial OPE to understand exactly what all-electric OPE can now achieve in terms of performance, sustainability and cost savings.

“By presenting all the information in a factual and user-friendly way, we can help landscaping professionals and municipal authorities to make truly informed decisions,” added Anthony. “Our customers have trusted us for over 100 years and our latest campaign, Lead the Charge, is about Toro repaying that trust by giving them the confidence to transition to cleaner, more cost-effective outdoor power equipment.”

The Revolution Series is easy to maintain and cost-effective to run, lowering the total cost of ownership while contributing to greater business efficiency. For further details, visit https://sites.Toro.com/leadthecharge/index.html.

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Fleet from Toro brings boost in productivity

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Fleet from Toro brings boost in productivity: Forres Golf Club in Moray, Scotland has gone all-in on Toro with a small fleet to optimise operations and do more with its experienced team of four. 

Before committing to a five-year hire purchase deal with Reesink Turfcare which allows the club to upgrade its machines regularly, Forres was using mowers from two different brands with mixed results across its 18-hole course.

Fleet from Toro brings boost in productivity

Fleet from Toro brings boost in productivity

Now, with the Toro Reelmaster 5010-H, two Greensmaster TriFlex 3400 and Workman MDX, Head Greenkeeper Ross Macleod is seeing improvements in productivity and operations and receiving compliments from members noticing the difference.

One of the reasons for the increase in productivity is how fast and convenient it is to change the cutting units in the Greensmaster TriFlex says Ross: “With the TriFlex, we can easily swap the cutting units without tools, quickly switching from greens to tees units to mow the different areas of the course. Previously, we were experiencing cutting inconsistencies due to using different machines and having to fine-tune the height of cut every time which led to excessive time wasting.

“Since using Toro, we’ve been far more productive. We can consistently mow multiple times without having to adjust the units. The set-up efficiency means we have finally freed up time because the team is spending less time in the sheds setting up the machines and has more time to be outside improving the course. We’re now getting round to doing all those small jobs that always seemed to be delayed, such as tidying up the bunkers and pathways.”

Ross has been at Forres for 29 years and as he and the team undertake a new rough management programme, he’s been particularly happy with the fuel efficiency provided by the Toro Reelmaster 5010-H.

He says: “Before we purchased the Reelmaster 5010-H, we used to cut the grass wall to wall, mowing all the roughs and fairways every week. Now, we are simply thinning out the roughs, allowing for the growth of wildflowers which enables us to cut less often and save manpower, man hours and fuel, which is just better in every way. The fact that the machine is a hybrid brings even more fuel-savings and its quality of cut really is outstanding.”

“All in all, we’re very happy with our new Toro machines,” Ross concludes. “They are elevating the quality of mowing, are incredibly comfortable to use, don’t require much maintenance and are helping us do much more with the same small team. What’s even better is it’s not just us noticing, the members have noticed the difference Toro has brought across the course, too.”

Discover how Toro’s technology 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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Technology leads Surbiton’s new Toro fleet

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Technology leads Surbiton’s new Toro fleet: In its latest Toro fleet deal with Reesink Turfcare, Surbiton Golf Club has invested for the first time in environmentally friendly technology with two Greensmaster 3360 hybrid mowers and accessed the industry’s newest spraying technology with the GeoLink system.

Course Manager Andrew Kerr says the reasons for these choices are progressive as well as practical: “We’ve been evolving and adapting to golf technology and the needs of golfers since we began, and this is the next step. We’ve noticed in recent years that members use Surbiton as a destination location, to enjoy the environment it provides, not just for playing golf.

Technology leads Surbiton's new Toro fleet

Technology leads Surbiton’s new Toro fleet

“With reduced emissions and lower operating noise these mowers contribute to creating a better and more relaxed place to be. And for the same reasons, are pleasing to the residents around us.” The benefits don’t stop there though, Andrew is also noticing a significant reduction in fuel consumption too.

Based on the outskirts of Southwest London, Surbiton Golf Club is one of the first clubs to take advantage of the latest GeoLink spray system, further helping with club efficiencies.

“The level of accuracy it provides you just wouldn’t be able to achieve manually no matter how good or experienced the operator,” he says. “It’s reducing how much product we use and lowering our costs because we’re only using what we need to, there’s no wastage. We don’t have square greens or fairways here and that had made spraying tricky but now we cover every inch with no over or under spraying.”

Andrew has noticed a big difference in the presentation and quality of the grass since using the GeoLink: “We don’t overdose and the grass is as plump as possible, which members love. They perceive the general standard of the course to be improved as a result.”

Also included in the order are two Groundsmaster 3500-D with Sidewinders, seven Greensmaster 1021 pedestrian mowers, two Reelmaster 3575-D fairway mowers and a Groundsmaster 4700-D rough mower in what is the club’s second Toro fleet deal.

“We got our last fleet about six years ago and we would usually replace it after five years, but we’ve been waiting for the machines to be available,” explains Andrew. “What we’ve noticed in the interim is that with the quality and longevity of Toro and the support of Reesink this hasn’t been a problem. We’ve had a Reesink technician come onsite for a day every two weeks and that’s kept maintenance and machinery performance up to standard.”

Andrew and his team of nine have found all the machines involved in the order deliver to their specific presentation requirements: “Our members love striped greens and complexes and having the combination of the cylinders and Sidewinders makes delivering eye catching stripes easy.”

To see how Toro fine turf machinery can benefit your course, call Reesink Turfcare on 01480 226800 or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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