Newslines Spring 2020

News for Turfcare Professionals . Spring 2020 news lines

WOODHALL SPA GOES TO TOWN WITH TORO

Toro helping to safeguard the home of English Golf pages 02-03

PRODUCT TEST TORO GREENSMASTER 1021 When new really does mean new, a redesign of the classic GR1000 pages 04-05

ROYAL ST GEORGES TRUSTS IN TORO

COTSWOLDS STRIKES GOLD WITH TORO Productivity increased following first Toro fleet deal page 12

Toro Total Solutions customer for 15th Open Championship page 06

Now we have the rightful landscape back, playing fantastically, our focus is on ensuring that lasts, and with the combination of Sam, the team and Toro on board we know that’s a realistic ambition.

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Cover From left to right: Reesink’s Trevor Chard, Woodhall Spa’s Sam Rhodes and Richard Latham, Russell Groundcare’s Mark Willerton.

02 Course manager Sam Rhodes, standing, with part of the club’s latest Toro fleet.

01 Richard Latham, general manager, Woodhall Spa

03 The renovation project at Woodhall Spa throughout the stages.

It’s a relationship over two decades strong, therefore it’s no surprise that when it came to renewing its machinery fleet as it concluded what is widely recognised as the biggest in-house golf renovation project in the UK, that Woodhall Spa chose Toro again. Woodhall Spa goes to town to safeguard home of English Golf

As the club’s three-year, three-stage restoration project designed to give the Lincolnshire course back its rightful heathland landscape and original character concludes, the focus is now on the quality of the playing surfaces. Hence the latest significant investment in Toro and Reesink Turfcare. Course manager Sam Rhodes says: “We have so much confidence in Toro. Having Toro on board during the renovations meant there was one less big thing to worry about. There was too much to do as it was, so knowing the maintenance, and irrigation, of the courses was in safe hands was invaluable. And now as the main restoration work is finished, we’re going to town on the quality of the playing surfaces.” Richard Latham, general manager, explains the reason for the renovation: “It’s accepted that the course found itself in this position because of over 50 years of woodland mismanagement and neglect. Woodhall Spa was fast falling down in the world rankings and it was getting harder to maintain the courses with every year that went by. Too many trees were affecting the playing quality of the course and the shade was affecting growth, plus we had collapsing bunker banks. Our members were loyal and the course was still popular, but it was time to act and safeguard the future of the course.” A phone call from Richard was all it took to secure the services of Tom Doak, one of the true greats of modern golf course architecture, for the redesign of the home of the governing body of England Golf. Richard says: “Sam and I had a wish list of everything we wanted to achieve and we were in agreement that Tom would be the ultimate choice for redesigning the course.” It’s been a collaborative project. Six holes a year were tackled and once Tom had created the vision and design and his skilled

landscaping team had sculpted and honed the land, then Sam and the greenkeeping team took over. “We know and understand the course and the requirements placed on it as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so it was far better we do the work in-house than bring contractors in,” Sam explains. “It was a stressful time incorporating this work on top of the maintenance and smooth running of the course, but the time spent with Tom, just 30 days over the three-year project, were some of the best in my career. I learnt so much and was inspired. This work was so much more than just a job and now we have a course to be hugely proud of.” One of the biggest changes was the introduction of bigger greens, now 4,000sqm larger, which takes the greenkeeping team an extra two hours to mow every morning, ably assisted by Toro. Sam says: “We’ve long been a Toro Total Solutions customer and we wanted a full fleet refresh to make sure we were benefitting from the latest technological advancements and to ensure we are ready for the next all-important phase in the course’s future. We’re already seeing the impact of the new design of the cylinder cutting unit of the Toro Reelmaster 5010-H, it’s freeing a man up.” The new fleet is comprehensive including greens, tees and fairways mowers, aerators, top dressers and bunker rakes. Sam has included hybrid technology in the form of three Reelmaster 5010-H fairway mowers and two all-electric Workman GTX utility vehicles, and during the renovations the Toro Lynx central control irrigation system and 170 Infinity sprinklers on the greens, tees and surrounds was extended to the fairways covering the Hotchkin and Bracken courses. Richard says: “To have extended the

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irrigation system to the fairways means we have complete Toro protection.” Both Richard and Sam agree this project has been game-changing, Richard says: “To say we have successfully completed the biggest in-house project the country has seen is quite the achievement. Our members are playing a far more strategic game, reminiscent of how it used to be when golf was first played here in 1905. We’ve successfully put all the holes back together again ourselves and we’re moving up in the rankings. We’ve achieved what we set out to do.”

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PRODUCT TEST Toro Greensmaster 1021 by James de Havilland

When newreally doesmean new 30 years after its launch the classic Toro Greensmaster 1000, beloved by so many across the globe, has had a redesign. It is perhaps easier to outline what the latest Toro Greensmaster 1000 has in common with its predecessor than list what is new, with just the DPA cutting unit carried over (perhaps unsurprising considering its advanced and proven technology). Even that element is now designed for quick and easy removal for maintenance. The pre-production model I looked over here highlights just how much has changed and also shines a light into the future of all Toro walk behind mowers. Imagine the scenario... Tasked with hand mowing a green or two ahead of a prestigious tournament, you have no choice of the mower you will use, let alone the fiddle time you may want to adjust the handle height. Job one with this new GR1021 – see if adjusting the handle height is as easy and, of equal importance, see if making this adjustment has a real impact on working the machine. All it takes to set the handle height on the new Greensmaster is to raise a knurled alloy clamp handle to release the handle to telescope up and down. As the handle freely pivots at its mount, setting the height actually took a couple of goes to get right. First time, the adjustment made was a bit too low for a comfortable turn. A small adjustment later and the handle was about right, but still another tweak was needed. This took a further few seconds.

AS SEEN AT BTME

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There were other little details that stand out too, such as the engine throttle lever. This is tucked inside the loop of the handle where it is out of the way but within thumb reach for a slight nudge up or down. This small design change is just one of the niceties of the mower’s revised control layout. A few minutes at the handle of a Greensmaster 1021 and it’s clear this is a mower you’re just ready to use. The controls feel natural and intuitive, suggesting a switch from pretty much any other greens mower to one of these will be painless. Back in the workshop, a few minutes studying of the mower were enough to take in more of the new model’s details. In place of the belt drive transmission is a new geared drive from the engine to the roller and cylinder driveshafts, a new design that replaces the belt drive of predecessor models. Fully enclosed, Toro suggest the system will just do its job with no attention, the gear case having a

Why all this preamble on such a small point? Simple. Setting the mower to suit the individual demands of one operator took perhaps a minute. When swapping to another user, adjusting the handle to how they like it would take moments. Details like this matter. So too does the working interface between user and machine and here another change is the new ‘dual function bail’, the engagement rail positioned under handle loop. As you would expect, holding the rail up engages drive. Unlike the existing system, where drive is just engaged or released by the bar, the new system enables drive to remain engaged but slowed as it is released. On the flat, most operators will tend to spin the mower round at full drive speed. On a slope, the dual action of the engagement rail allows the turn to be slowed. Even a brief run with the new model was enough to suggest the new system works in enabling the turn speed to be easily controlled.

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Toro Greensmaster 1021 FIRST IMPRESSIONS

When asked to try a new mower, changes have typically been made, but a complete redesign is rare. With its new Greensmaster range however, Toro is in the process of revamping its pedestrian greensmowers and the new GR1021 walk behind model we look at here is new from the tip of its handle to its driveline and chassis. All that remains the same are the patented DPA cutting units, but even that has a modular build to allow the driveline and chassis to be removable for eased servicing. Never one to rest easy, Toro has taken the enduring best seller and done what many didn’t think was possible and made it better.

Machine spec: Engine: Yanmar 4-cylinder, direct injection, turbo-charged, liquid-cooled diesel engine Ground speed, Mowing: 2.0–3.5mph (3.2–5.6km/h)

Ground speed, Transport: 5.3mph (8.5km/h)

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Drive system: Dual position traction drum with positions for contour following or forward weight bias at higher heights of cut

factory fill of long life grease that should last the life of the mower. The drive shafts links via collars so they can be easily detached if the driveline or power unit needs attention. This modular build is carried over to the DPA cutting unit, the whole unit being designed so it can be released and lifted off for servicing. Talking of maintenance, you will have a fruitless search when it comes to finding any grease points. There are none. We got just a taste of what the new GR1021 has to offer, the pre-production machine we got to try being the first to showcase a raft of Toro developments due for 2020 and beyond. The brief time spent with this mower shows that those who operate and look after Toro mowers have lots to look forward to, which in turn is good news for those who pay the bills.

Width of cut: 21ins (45.7cm)

Height of cut: Choice of cutting units (8, 11 and 14-blade) to accommodate different cutting heights Cutting unit: Detachable cutting unit allows easy removal for service/maintenance Handle: New telescoping loop handle can be easily adjusted to comfortably accommodate operators of all heights and skill levels. Handle isolation mounts give the cutting unit constant contact with the ground throughout the mowing process

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01 The telescopic handle adjusts for height without the need for any tools. Designed to pivot at the base, it isolates the operator from vibration and shock but not at the expense of ease of control. 02 Around 15 years separate the Toro GR1000 on the left from the new GR1021 to its right. Apart from the more obvious difference in the design of the handle, the modular build of the latest model does away with the belt drive of its forebear, with a sealed geared driveline and maintenance-free bearings throughout. 03 With its closed loop offering a choice of hold positions, the handle of the latest GR1000 series mowers is cleverly thought out, with no protrusions to get caught when making tight turns.

Full report at reesinkturfcare.co.uk

Test conducted at The Oxfordshire Golf Club with thanks.

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Toro prevails at Brett Vale

Kit : Reelmaster 6700-D, Groundsmaster 4700- D, 3 Greensmaster Flex 2120, 2 Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420, Groundsmaster 4500-D, Workman HDX-D, Multi Pro WM sprayer, TYM T293, ProCore 648 With its third Toro package deal, Brett Vale Golf Club in Suffolk has invested in both purchase and lease Toro machines due to the brand’s exceptional durability. After seeing the machinery already at the course in action it made sense for newly appointed head greenkeeper Tony Barker to further invest in Toro to continue the good work. “I started nine months ago at the same time the last Toro fleet deal had come to an end,” he says. “So my first big task was to look into the options available when it came to signing another machinery deal. Nothing beat the way Toro worked on the terrain. In fact, new machines from other brands didn’t perform as well as the Toro machines we’d had for five years! We have a lot of steep hills that take a lot of power to climb and other machines in the demos didn’t have the power to manage the inclines, whereas the old and new Toro machines did.” After Toro came out on top at the demonstration, it was clear to Tony the way forward was to expand the club’s Toro fleet, achieved by purchasing a mix of the machines from its last deal as well as bringing in new additions. “Toro machines are more durable than most competitor brands, without a doubt,” he says. “So it made sense to purchase some of the machines already at the club which had been, and still are, doing great work. But I wanted to expand the fleet too, to improve on the already high standards. Having a comprehensive Toro fleet is a fundamental part of this progression, and credit must go to the club owner Chris Waters whose investment has enabled us to make this progression.” Tony concludes: “At the end of the day, Toro provides durable and high quality machines that give us real results – so why would I change that?”

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Royal St George’s trusts Toro

01 The club opted for seven Greensmaster Flex 2120s to help bring improvement to the greens, some of which can be seen here. 02 Course manager Paul Larsen, centre, shakes hands with Reesink’s Larry Pearman and are joined by Reesink’s Richard Wood.

Kit : 4 Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420, 2 Reelmaster 3555-D, 2 Reelmaster 3100-D, 2 GreensPro 1260, 7 Greensmaster Flex 2120, Lynx central control system and sprinklers Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent has trusted in Toro since 2013. First came a fleet deal and then last year a new irrigation system making it a Toro Total Solutions customer in time for the club to host the Open Championship for the 15th time. Consistently ranked among the best golf courses in the world, Royal St George’s decision to opt for Toro machinery for its second five-year agreement was in large part down to its technological advances and product development. In 2013, the very latest in green technology in the shape of four TriFlex Hybrid 3420 riding greensmowers with electric cylinder cutting units particularly appealed to course manager Paul Larsen. This time it’s seven Greensmaster Flex 2120 walk-behind mowers delivering the ultimate finish. “I’m always on the hunt for new technology and the results from the Flex 2120s have been particularly impressive, bringing an improvement to the greens,” says Paul. It was this faith in Toro, combined with the “brilliant service from Reesink” and a successful demo that resulted in the installation of a Lynx central control system and over a thousand Toro sprinklers last year in time for the record- breaking heatwave.

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“Not only did the new system have to bring the course back to the standard it was, but to bring further improvement too, all in the face of excessive dry weather,” says Paul. “We noticed instantly the difference and have seen huge water savings.” Such is the relationship with Toro and Reesink that during The Open this year Reesink will be loaning the club more machines to keep up with the maintenance a tournament demands. “Having the extra Toro machines on loan will be a huge help and further strengthens our relationship with Toro and Reesink,” concludes Paul.

Head greenkeeper Tony Barker, left, stands with club owner Chris Waters centre and Reesink’s Julian Copping in front of the club’s Toro fleet.

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ALL-NEW ALL-ELECTRIC

Machine Focus Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370

Being unveiled for the first time in the UK at BTME is Toro’s most eagerly anticipated technology, the most advanced on the market, the all-new all-electric Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 ride-on mower. With the industry’s first lithium-ion battery powered unit, It’s the quietest ride-on greensmower and incorporates features that will revolutionise the market says Toro. And Toro’s innovation could not be more evident in this machine, even if you didn’t focus on its all-electric credentials for a moment, with a ream of patented or patent-pending features bringing a host of benefits and solutions for greenkeepers. In particular, Toro’s ‘radius dependent speed system’ delivers an optimal perimeter cut by monitoring each individual cylinder and traction wheel speed during turns and that, in conjunction with the ‘lift-in-turn’ cutting unit levelling feature, standardises the clip rate of each individual cylinder and virtually eliminates the effect know as ‘Triplex-Ring’. The double A-Arm suspension system, with industry-leading Flex technology, means the cutting units float freely and closely over any terrain and deliver superior contour-following, while the ‘lift-gate footrest’ and ‘tool-free quick change’ cutting units simplify service and maintenance. But back to that all-important all-electric point. Lower emissions and fuel savings, yet ample power to get the job done, the eTriFlex 3370 means customers can respond to business demands for increased revenue by cutting earlier and therefore delivering earlier tee times to customers.

“Responding to environmental concerns is a subject spanning the industries, and there simply has to be the choice for businesses to buy electric whether that be a car or a fine turf mower. No more damaging hydraulic leaks, no more emissions, no more pollution, the eTriFlex 3370 delivers the future to the fine turf sector.”

Specification

Power source Eight lithium-ion Samsung SDI batteries

Energy capacity 10.77kWh, 48V nominal Noise level DBA Sound power: 82db(A) Operator ear: 66db(A) Weight Mowing: 1,359lbs (616kg) Transport: 1,628lbs (738kg)

Jeff Anguige National sales manager

Width of cut 59ins (150cm)

Ground speed Mowing: 0-5mph (0-8km/h) Transport: 0-10mph (0-16km/h) Reverse: 0-3mph (0-4.8km/h) Dimensions Width: 70.9ins (180cm) Length: with baskets 98ins (249cm) Height: 80.8ins (205cm)

Product literature at reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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The Roundup

Lease and purchase Toro a driving force at The Drift

The Drift Golf Club in Surrey has continued its investment in Toro as it embarks on a £1 million project to bring in new facilities and continue the improvement in the course seen over recent years. In an enduring relationship with Toro, the club has purchased equipment to run alongside its Toro lease deal, citing the brand’s quality and longevity. Course manager Mark Ogden says: “We see the value in both leasing and purchasing Toro. With a lease deal we can spread our budget across the year and upgrade to new machines every five years to decrease the maintenance time needed and ensure the best quality cut at all times. “I’ve always been a big fan of Toro. We’re so confident with the quality and robustness of the Toro machines we bought some equipment alongside the lease deal, so we’re in a win-win situation. “We’ve brought in two new Toro Greensmaster TriFlex 3400 machines for the tees and approaches and we’re already seeing a huge difference in both the aesthetics and quality of the playing surface.”

Course manager Mark Ogden sits on one of the club’s new Toro machines, joined by Reesink’s Mike Taylor.

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First fleet deal More Toro for Badgemore Park

Involved in the deal and Lindsay’s favourite is a ProCore 648 with quick tine change collars: “We have a massive aeration programme proposed for the next six months so it’s going to get a lot of use. It’s a real quality piece of engineering, all the machines are, which makes my job easier on a daily basis. We’ve all got confidence in the machines and it’s really boosted morale and productivity.” But what has impressed the team and members of the club most are the results to the course. “The quality of cut is incredible,” concludes Lindsay. “Within a month, members were commenting

team. For us those two things can equal the productivity of an extra person.” For Pat and his greenkeepers – Michael Buck and David Driver – there is simply nothing comparable to Toro in this respect, hence why the club is taking its relationship with the brand and Reesink to 15 years. A heathland course set on common land, course maintenance is constant says Pat: “We have a lot of walking traffic and dogs coming across the course throughout the The course has really flourished recently with a growing membership to prove it. Having Toro on board keeps the team and our members safe in the knowledge the course will be maintained to a consistently high standard. Mark Ogden Course manager

Following on from Toro’s success at The Drift Golf Club in Surrey, Badgemore Park Golf Club in Henley-on-Thames, its sister club, has chosen Toro for its first ever fleet package deal. Course manager Lindsay Anderson says: “We’ve undergone a lot of development, making changes with new greens and tees and re-developing all the bunkers. Investing in a complete Toro machinery package is the next step in the right direction to improve the course in time for our 50th anniversary in 2022.” It was a very thorough process for Lindsay when it came to choosing a new equipment provider, but “it became clear fairly soon that Toro was the way to go,” he says.

on the quality of the playing surfaces having improved.”

01 Badgemore Park owner Jon Connell, left, joined by course manager Lindsay Anderson, third from left and Reesink’s Robert Rees, third from right, with some of the Badgemore Park greenkeeping team.

and if parts are ever needed they arrive promptly thanks to distributor Reesink’s excellent service and backup.” The machines included in the club’s third five-year lease deal are two Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420 mowers, a Groundsmaster 4500-D, two Workman GTX-E utility vehicles and the Groundsmaster 3500-D Sidewinder which is quite the star of the show for Pat and the team, thanks to it “creating the perfect finish around the edges of the bunkers,” says Pat.

Machinery partner Toro for the trio at Rushmere

With three greenkeepers at the historic 6200-yard, 18-hole course in Ipswich, Suffolk it is absolutely essential that the machinery brand head greenkeeper Pat Swinn invests in, is the most efficient and reliable there is. He says: “Efficiency and reliability in a machinery partner takes on a whole new meaning when you have a small

day. That requires vigilance to make sure the course presents for our members at all times. Toro is instrumental in helping us achieve that. The machines are very rarely on downtime

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Collective improvement Toro stands out at Stowmarket

200 sprayer and ProPass 200 topdresser.

Matt says: “We’d been thinking about how to tackle the pitchmarks on a regular basis and the solution is the Toro ProPass topdresser. Since the multi-tasking Workman and topdresser arrived we’ve made great savings in the time spent applying sand and incurring much less disruption as we do it. “We’ve heavily invested in the fairways in the last two years due to the drought and it’s important we safeguard that investment. The ability to easily transform the Workman into either a utility vehicle, a precision sprayer or an effective topdresser in only 20 minutes is going to be particularly useful for that and ensuring optimum grass growth.”

Stowmarket Golf Club, set in the beautiful Finborough Park in Suffolk, has long been a Toro customer, but this is the first time it has bought multiplemachines together. Matt Gill, who has been at the club since 1989 and course manager for 13 years, says: “We’re investing in the future of the club and Toro is very much a part of that.” There’s a new RM6700 to replace one which has, according to Matt who is pictured below, “performed consistently and constantly for 11 years, ensuring we’re always ready for play by 9.30am” and a Workman HDX-D utility vehicle with a Multi Pro

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01 Ian Poulter opening Royal Norwich golf course

Q&A In our Spring 2019 issue of Newslines, we visited Royal Norwich Golf Club as the new course and its facilities began to take shape. Since then, the course has had its official opening and we catch up with estates manager Peter Todd, pictured, to hear how it’s going.

Tractors TYM tractors for Southampton Saints

joins three other T503 mid-duty tractors which have recently been replaced like-for-like and three new T293 compact utility tractors. And it seems the use of TYM at the club has created somewhat of a buzz locally. “Word of mouth has already spread about the quality of the pitch at AFC Totton,” says Andy. “We’ve had other clubs in the same league asking us how we maintain it to such a high standard! The answer is always: hard work combined with high quality machinery.”

After taking on the maintenance of an additional stadium, Southampton Football Club is continuing its 16-year relationship with TYM and has invested in a new T503 tractor to help with the extra workload. A new partnership between Southampton Football Club and AFC Totton has seen Southampton FC’s grounds team take on the site’s maintenance, as Andy Gray, Southampton FC’s grounds manager, explains: “Taking over maintenance of the new stadium, alongside our own St Mary’s Stadium and Staplewood training ground is a challenge and why we’ve invested in a new TYM tractor to help take on the task.” The new T503 for AFC Totton’s Testwood Stadium brings the fleet of TYM tractors up to seven and

3400 on order and a ProCore 648 pedestrian

Congratulations on the course opening! Thank you! It was a great

aerator, ProForce debris blower, four Greensmaster Flex 2120 mowers and a TransPro 100 purchased. Plus, we’re currently demoing some Toro fairway mowers which are performing really well. So, what’s next? We’re incredibly busy with the course now open and lots of smaller projects still ongoing such as the creation of walking trails and a herb garden for the kitchen. As a new course, it needs constant careful maintenance still and Toro machines allow us to do that as well as keeping on top of things in winter too.

atmosphere, golfing star Ian Poulter played the course and we had 80 new members join in the opening month of September, so it was a real success. How has the role Toro plays at the club changed over this time? Our permanent comprehensive fleet is taking shape. Several machines were purchased in 2016 at the club’s previous location which have moved over to the new course. This is in addition to new machines coming on board.

What in particular are you welcoming to the fleet? We’ve got a Groundsmaster

Left to right: Reesink’s Mark Winder and Scott Turner, with Southampton FC’s grounds manager Andy Gray

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Irrigation Solutions

at work

excess of wet areas on the course comments Bruce: “We were advised to go with Toro by Callum Oliphant from Applied Irrigation. He vouched for Toro as the best system on the market and as far as we’re concerned, he’s right!” Not only was the process completed smoothly, but the new system also proved vital for keeping the greens to a high standard during the heatwave last summer, its performance during which can only certify the club’s first investment in Toro as a success. The Toro Lynx controller and Infinity sprinklers have taken updating to another level – they’re years ahead of the competition in terms of the technology and quality they offer. From start to finish, this process has been a joy to see carried out.” undulating land to the northwest of the existing site and benefits from a new layout. The greens and tees are built on 92 percent sand and 8 percent soil, plus it’s in an open, exposed, breezy location, which gives it characteristics more in line with a links course than going to benefit from a new home from the Highland Council who owns the land, and in the summer of 2019, the course, designed by Scottish golf architect Stuart Rennie, opened to great acclaim. Stevie McIntosh, course manager (pictured), says: “The new course is a real accomplishment. Throughout construction, which involved creating 16 new holes and completely renovating two from the existing course, we had to ensure there were always 18 holes open for play and timing was tight in accordance to the deadline of phase two of the road construction.” The new site is located on

inland like it is. That will always be a challenge when it comes to irrigation, but having given the Toro Lynx central control system and Infinity sprinklers everywhere but the tees, which benefit from the Flex 800 sprinklers, a good run since it was switched on in the summer, it’s one which Toro has sailed through. Stevie continues: “I’m really impressed, using it is a real pleasure. An irrigation system is the lifeblood of a course and it’s so important to get it right, you only get one shot! We put our trust in Stuart as well as Declan O’Malley from contractors European Golf Services, and they couldn’t have chosen better. It’s delivered all I would expect and want from a system; it’s easy to use, accurate and we’re getting uniform coverage.” With Toro on board, the next phase of the club’s life is off to a good start. We would have really struggled without Toro irrigation. The incredible results we’ve seen really are a testament to the quality of the product.

Toro fit for Kings

When the West Link bypass around Inverness was routed straight through the existing course, Kings Golf Club, then known as Torvean Golf Club and renamed in 2019, knew it was

Kings Golf Club in Inverness has relocated with a brand new 18- hole, 6,600-yard, par 70 layout and a new Toro Lynx central control system and sprinklers to take the club into the next phase of its life.

Recommendation for Toro brings improvement for Hamilton

and Infinity sprinklers for being “years ahead of the competition” and delivering an improvement to the course which has helped increase membership. Installer Applied Irrigation recommended Toro as the best system to solve the problem of

Based on a recommendation, Hamilton Golf Club in Lanarkshire, Scotland, opted for Toro for its irrigation refit. And based on its subsequent performance course manager Bruce Cruickshank credited the Lynx central control system

Bruce Cruickshank Course manager, above right with Reesink’s Peter Newton

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Total Solution for Stratford-On-Avon

are top accessible making maintenance simple, plus changing the arcs, nozzles and trajectory is all quick and easy. Lynx has everything on one screen and with the click of a button you can set the irrigation for the whole course and control watering to the second which has had a big effect on water savings.” Thorough research was undertaken on which brand and system to go with: “We visited Reesink on stand at SALTEX and BTME as well as going along to Toro roadshows and visiting other golf clubs to see it in action. The club was investing a large amount, so it had to be absolutely right.” Since the quick and seamless installation by Full Circle Irrigation completed in May last year, it seems Toro has more than proved itself to be the right system for the club. “The installation and service from both Full Circle Irrigation and Reesink have been very good and the course has massively improved,” concludes Chris.

Otterbine has been impressing Northamptonshire County Golf Club with its ability to keep 3.5 million gallons of water in its irrigation reservoir clean, clear and heathy for 15 years, so when the club’s high volume 5hp surface spray aerator reached the end of its life, it was replaced like-for-like. Rob Hay, course manager of the club in the Midlands, says: “The reservoir was built after a couple of hot summers to take us off the mains for irrigation. The reservoir doesn’t have a large surface area, but is very deep, and the greenkeeping team soon noticed water quality fast degrading and a build-up of algae forming. “Otterbine was recommended by the club’s irrigation contractor, Stuart Sanders of SJS Irrigation, and since installation, it’s delivered on its promise to manage the reservoir’s severe aquatic environment. The contractor advised never turning the aerator off, so it wasn’t, and it has performed consistently for 15 non-stop years!” Peter Newton from Reesink says Otterbine is the perfect choice for customers looking for a degree of water self- sufficiency: “Otterbine’s high volume range is outstanding at keeping large bodies of water healthy and we’re seeing excellent results from golf clubs wanting to come off the mains and recycle water. “Holding good quality water on site for irrigation is something Northamptonshire County Golf Club has been doing for years with no issues, in fact it’s seen huge benefits in cost savings and the club’s sustainability.” OTTERBINE DELIVERS ON ITS PROMISE

Course manager Chris Bromley, left, with Reesink’s Peter Newton in front of the club’s new Toro irrigation.

investing in the brand: “We’ve had Infinity sprinklers installed across the course on the fairways, greens, surrounds, approaches and the larger tees, as well as T5 sprinklers for the smaller tees and the Lynx control system with weather station to top it off,” he says. “Toro irrigation provides everything we need. The sprinklers

Stratford-On-Avon Golf Club in Warwickshire has chosen Toro for its new irrigation system, adding to its full fleet of Toro machinery and becoming a Total Solutions customer. Having spent years building up a complete Toro fleet to maintain the parkland course, course manager Chris Bromley knows the value of

Three phase installation for Cruden Bay irrigation

After having completed the second of three phases of a

complete irrigation installation and renovation, Cruden Bay Golf Club near Peterhead is now benefitting from cost and time effective irrigation from Toro. Course manager Alister Matherson explains: “Splitting the work into phases meant we could spread out the cost and minimise the amount of time work had the potential to disturb customers, plus it gave us time to make informed decisions about the irrigation system we wanted. “We’re now two thirds of the way through the installation, with the first phase completed in 2014. This involved installing a new transfer pump, holding tank and replacing the old pump set.” And in 2019 came the cherry on the cake, with the addition of new pipework, cabling, irrigation

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01 Course manager Alister Matherson.

more efficient and is the biggest plus. The quality of coverage as well has made a big difference to the course.” Up next for the club is phase three in the irrigation installation, to cover the fairways. “We won’t change from Toro now that we’ve seen what their irrigation can do. Although a few years off yet, we’re looking forward to slotting in that last piece of the jigsaw, which will give us a completely modern, functional system across the course,” concludes Alister.

alongside the Lynx central control system.

“We had a demonstration of Toro sprinklers and used them on the course alongside competitor brands. Throughout extensive trials, we saw quite clearly that Toro performed better,” says Alister. “Added to that is Toro Lynx control, which is a great bit of kit. My favourite feature is the

mobile app which allows us to control the irrigation from anywhere, which is superb!

valves and brand new Toro sprinklers across the greens, approaches and walkways,

“Having a clearer plan for our

irrigation means we can be

news lines . spring 2020 . 11

Get in touch For turfcare machinery, irrigation and water aeration products: Reesink Turfcare UK Limited 1-3 Station Road, St Neots Cambridgeshire PE19 1QH T: 01480 226800 E: info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk W: reesinkturfcare.co.uk BRINGING THE FUTURE TO BTME! We were delighted to showcase Toro’s most eagerly anticipated technology, the most advanced on the market, at BTME. Learn more about the star of the show, the revolutionary all-new all- electric Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 ride-on greensmower with the industry’s first lithium- ion battery powered unit on page 7. It was joined on stand by its hybrid counterpart the eTriFlex 3360. The latest model in the Greensmaster 1000 series, the GR1026 was also on stand bringing a 26 inch wide cut and consistency to fixed-head pedestrian greens mowing. With the industry’s first telescoping handle, the GR1026, along with the GR1021 also at BTME, can accommodate operators of different heights and skill levels. David Cole, managing director at Reesink, says: “BTME was the perfect launch platform for these two new cutting-edge Toro machines. Now we look forward to to demonstrating these machines to customers to showcase their capabilities on the golf course.”

01 Course manager Wayne Vincent, left, shakes hands with Reesink’s Robert Rees.

Cotswolds strikes gold with Toro

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WIN AT WINTER MAINTENANCE With a blade for all seasons, choosing Toro guarantees not only a perfect fit but one carefully crafted to suit specific turf needs. For example, Toro’s ‘Atomic’ blades are what’s best later in the season, perfect for mulching up leaves or for use with a recycling deck to mulch the grass. To stock up on Toro parts or for winter there’s no let up on maintenance.” “Toro durability is why we’ve had a fleet of purchased Toro machines for so long. But having these four new machines with the latest upgrades and technological advancements has made a vast difference. “Continuing an agreement plan with Toro means we can consistently bring to the course the newest technology and upgrades, while simultaneously reducing machinery downtime. We’ve seen the team’s productivity increase after only having these new machines for a few months, so it’s definitely proven to be the right move for the club” concludes Wayne.

REESINK ADDS REFRESHER TRAINING 12 practical refresher courses have been added to Reesink’s machinery and equipment training offering. The one day operational and service courses are for those who need the latest knowledge or have previously completed the relevant two-day course and need a skill set update. All courses are delivered by nationally qualified assured trainers and assessors and include a mixture of practical and theory work. get the whole course done in a day and a half and the finish is brilliant. No one could match the offering that Toro provided not only when it came to the spec of the GM5900-D, but the rest of the fleet too, made up of a Reelmaster 3100-D Sidewinder, RM3575-D and a Greensmaster Flex 2120” Going forward, this first lease deal with Toro is just the beginning of a longer-term investment in the club’s machinery. “We have a team of six here to maintain a 157-acre course,” explains course manager Wayne Vincent. “Plus, with the course draining naturally because of its position on limestone rock it’s playable year-round, which means

When it comes to golf course machinery, time is money, and as such efficient machines are fast becoming a must have for golf courses across the country. Which is exactly the reason why Cotswold Hills opted for the Groundsmaster 5900-D, pictured, in its first Toro lease deal. Heading up the new fleet is the Groundsmaster 5900-D, a machine capable of mowing 17 acres an hour. “Previously we were spending three days each week cutting the roughs, but the GM5900-D has cut that time in half,” says Wayne. “With the increase in cutting width and speed, alongside its excellent contour following, we can now

The last tee...

EVERYONE A WINNER

With international trips for both the winner and the endorser for both awards joining the long list of benefits to entering the Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards , there’s even more reason to make sure you enter by May. The awards are renowned for providing career-advancing experiences, knowledge to enhance work and benefit careers as well as offering invaluable networking opportunities within the greenkeeping sector.

machinery maintenance advice, contact Reesink.

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