Newslines Summer 2018

Woodhall Spa trusts in Reesink and Toro once again Kit: Reelmaster 3100-D, Greensmaster 3250-D, Reelmaster 5010-H, Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420, Groundsmaster 4300-D and two Workman GTX utility vehicles. Coinciding with its three-year restoration project to return the course back to its original heathland appearance, Woodhall Spa Golf Club has signed its fourth five-year exclusivity agreement with Reesink and Toro, saying it was the complete package offered by Reesink that sealed the deal. Sam Rhodes, courses manager for 12 years and at the Lincolnshire club for 23 years, says: “We signed on again for everything Reesink offers, but especially the back-up and service. We’ve really enjoyed building a relationship with Fineturf Machinery, the new dealer for the area, too, which played a part in the decision.” Leading architect Tom Doak is overseeing the restoration project, which has become known as being one of the biggest in-house renovation projects in the UK. Sam says: “Working alongside Natural England we’ve removed a large number of trees to allow the site to regenerate and restore the course to its original heathland state. Not only is this important work to maintain our course as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, but the removal of some vegetation and scrub will open up the course and provide new strategy for the players, who in recent years were having to play around the encroaching trees.” With these site changes come new requirements from the machinery maintaining the course, as Sam explains: “Things are different with this order. We have different requirements with regards to the finish and feel we’re after, we’ve moved away from rotary

mowers, opting for cylinder mowers instead. The DPA cutting units of the Reelmaster 3100-D were a real draw as they hold adjustments well and give us the tightness of cut around the heathland landscape.” Included within the renovation work is the repositioning of some tees which the Greensmaster 3250-D is tasked with looking after, says Sam: “The Greensmaster 3250-D is good for mowing near bunkers thanks to its triangle wheel stand. In this project we’ve reopened old bunkers, reshaped many of the existing ones and built new ones. We’ve always been renowned for our bunkers and this work ensures we maintain that reputation. “The project as a whole will ensure we retain our status as one of the ‘Top 100 courses in the world’, and the decision to stick with Toro for another five years ensures we will maintain the course, in its refreshed form, to the standards for which we’ve been known for the last 15 years.”

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Residual value and Reesink reliability seal the deal for Toro at Orsett Golf Club Kit: Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420, Reelmaster 3575-D, Groundsmaster 3500-D, Groundsmaster 4000-D, two Reelmaster 3100-D mowers, a Multi Pro 5800-D, GreensPro 1260 and a ProCore SR72 aerator. Orsett Golf Club in Essex has long been a Toro customer and plans on keeping it that way for the next four years as it signs its third lease deal with Reesink Turfcare. This is thanks to Toro putting in the hours and keeping its residual value, as well as having Reesink supporting it with back-up. Set over 112 acres of undulating heathland, the par 72 Championship course has a demanding layout of over 6,600 yards, and as a result the machines are expected to work hard, as course manager Perry Lowe explains: “This is a really big course and the machines are used heavily. Toro gives us a good amount of hours yet keeps its residual value, which is an important factor in our four-year machinery replacement programme. In the last four years, we’ve had hardly any issues, but the peace of mind we get from having Reesink for backup should we need it is really important. “When Reesink took over as distributor for Toro three years ago, we wondered if things were going to change and if it would affect how things work. But we’re more than happy with the customer service, the speed with which any problems are dealt with is incredible – the next day and it’s sorted.” This latest four-year deal includes the Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420, Reelmaster 3575-D, Groundsmaster 3500-D, Groundsmaster 4000-D, two Reelmaster 3100-D mowers, a Multi Pro 5800-D, GreensPro 1260 and a ProCore SR72 aerator. Perry concludes: “It’s important we maintain course standards for our members. The results we get from Toro and Reesink have grown better every year and that is why we stick with them time after time.” 02

It’s vital to have the right back-up and support. There’s no question Reesink

and Fineturf are the best choices to partner us on this journey.

Sam Rhodes, course manager

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01 From left to right: Reesink’s Nigel Lovatt and Trevor Chard, Woodhall Spa’s general manager Richard Latham, sales manager for Fineturf Machinery Tom Moor and Woodhall Spa’s courses manager Sam Rhodes.

02 Course manager Perry Lowe, left, with Reesink’s Richard Freeman and the club’s latest fleet.

06 . news lines . summer 2018