Newslines Spring 2018

Ridge and furrow Exceeding expectations at Leicestershire The Leicestershire Golf Club presents a tough cut for its machinery fleet. The 6329-yard par 68 parkland course has a large percentage of ridge and furrow, which is challenging for any form of machinery. And not just coping, but excelling at the challenge is Toro. In particular, a 14-year-old Groundsmaster 4500-D and 21-year-old Reelmaster 6500-D continue to surprise Chris Lewis, course manager. “The machines manage the ridge and furrow, created by a system of ploughing in the middle ages, with relative ease and that’s why we’re a 100 percent Toro club,” he says. “They demonstrate incredibly good value in their longevity and continually impressive performance; especially the older machines, which are still running problem-free. They are a great example of why we stick with Toro year after year.” Chris has spoken about how impressed he is with these two machines before. In 2012 when the machines had clocked up 15,000 hours between them, well over the average machine life expectancy, he praised their robust build-quality and reliability. Five years on and all that’s changed is the miles on the clock; the GM4500-D boasts almost 10,000 hours, with the RM6500 just 1500 miles behind that. And the workload at the popular course shows no signs of slowing down. Some bunkers are being repositioned as part of an ongoing course improvement programme and there are plans to extend the course by introducing two par fives, making the par 70 course around 6400-yards. But what will remain the same are the contours for the mowers to manoeuvre and the steeper areas that the RM6500-D in particular has to climb. The wear and tear the machines get as a result makes their longevity all the more remarkable. Tractors Returning and new customers for TYM Orders have been placed and delivery dates set a s TYM returns to Leeds United and joins the fleet at Royal Dornoch Golf Club for the first time. Leeds United has invested in the latest TYM tractor to hit the UK market. Th e T393 w ill be used at the stadium with a range of attachments for verti-draining, spraying, seeding, top dressing and gritting the stadium car parks. It's the club’s second TYM bought through local dealer , Russells Groundcare in Hull, and joins the T503 which is based at the training grounds. Grounds manager Kiel Barrett says he continues to choose TYM because the machines are “well built, come at the right price and come with excellent customer support”. Although a long-standing Toro machinery and irrigation customer, Royal Dornoch Golf Club is new to TYM. The historic club has purchased two T503 tractors through the Reesink service centre based in Livingston, West Lothian. Course manager Eoin Riddell says the tractors provide “the perfect power to size ratio for our needs. We will use them to pull th e ProCore, and put trailers on the back for moving tasks such as shifting turf when building bunkers and transporting sand for tees and soil and gravel for paths.” A firm favourite with customers, the T503 will easily handle the tough conditions that come with a remote links course in the Scottish Highlands. 08 . news lines . spring 2018 The Roundup 02 The two Toro machines delivering over and above expectations 03 Utility vehicles UTVs demonstrate unbeatable value at John O’Gaunt John O’Gaunt Golf Club in Sandy, Bedfordshire, has purchased two Toro Workman utility vehicles, taking the club’s UTV fleet to seven. These hard-working workhorses have racked up over 16,000 hours of work between them demonstrating outstanding value and longevity. Nigel Broadwith, course manager, runs machines that are up to 18 years old with no problems. “I think we are proving at John O’Gaunt that you can get more out of your Toro machines than perhaps you think you can and that you don’t have to always buy new to get results,” he says. Most of the UTVs Nigel purchases are second-hand, with the latest two purchased as they came out of a five-year lease deal. Purchasing machines this way meant Nigel could buy two second- hand Workman utility vehicles for the price of one new one. I think Toro make the best utility vehicles in the industry. Nigel Broadwith, course manager These two machines in particular are surprising us with just how well they perform despite their age and the number of hours on their clocks. Chris Lewis, course manager (pictured) 01 The TYM T503 at Royal Dornoch alongside its Toro irrigation. 01 02