Newslines Spring 2020

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.

06 . news lines . spring 2020