Toro machinery and irrigation instrumental in course build and maintenance
For Cabot Highlands’ Course Manager James Hutchison a new course build, world-class golf conditions to maintain and a reputation to uphold are all part of the day job. Luckily, with a Toro Total Solution agreement, he has a fleet of Toro machinery, a new irrigation system and back up support from Reesink Scotland to make the job easier.
The Castle Stuart course has long been a Toro customer with both Toro machinery and irrigation maintaining the acclaimed links in Inverness and now the new Old Petty course, designed by renowned architect Tom Doak, will be too.
James comments: “There are over eight Cabot-managed courses across the world using Toro, but we still did extensive research and testing when it came to deciding what would work best for our new course and how to bring the latest technology onto our Castle Stuart course.
With so much riding on the opening as well as maintaining Castle Stuart’s position in the top 100, we knew we needed Toro’s finest cutting equipment to guarantee success and allow us to continue competing for our place.
The latest machinery order, which includes four Toro Reelmaster 3555-D mowers, two Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 mowers, a ProCore 648s aerator, ProPass 200 topdresser and Multi Pro 5800 with GeoLink have all been chosen with the specifics of the new course front and foremost says James.
The machinery team. From left, Mike Turnbull from Reesink Scotland and his team will provide back up support to Course Manager James Hutchison. They are joined by Jon Cole from Reesink Turfcare and John Mooney from The Toro Company.
When it comes to the decision of which irrigation system should be installed on the new Old Petty course, James opted for the Lynx Central Control System with Infinity sprinklers.
Three of the four new lightweight Reelmaster 3555-D mowers.
“We open officially in April 2026 and we’re currently growing the grass,” James explains. “For the delicate stage we’re in, precision is key, and Toro has delivered that from the 2000 pop up sprinklers with targeted watering with negligible water waste to the combination of the lightweight Reelmasters and the hybrid TriFlexes with no risk of hydraulic leaks.
“We’re about to start topdressing using the ProPass and 5000 tons of sand and spraying in wetting agents. The accuracy of the GeoLink with sprayer means we’re not wasting a drop of the expensive product; it’s all going exactly where it needs to and not putting the grass under unnecessary stress due to over spraying.”
The Multi Pro 5800 with GeoLink accuracy brings precision to spraying at Cabot.
Also aiding in the period of growing in the grass was the irrigation system says Robert Jackson, Division Manager at Reesink Hydro-Scapes: “We needed to be able to establish the grass species quite quickly. Having the correct irrigation system with the correct control and application meant we could assist in the whole process.”
James Hutchison shaking hands with The Toro Company’s Simon Squires and Robert Jackson from Reesink Hydro-Scapes.
With the input of the installer and consultant and Reesink’s experience on the irrigation products we were able to make sure the client achieved what they required from a system.
By choosing Toro from Reesink Scotland, James is guaranteed the back up and support from the UK distributor: “We have a team of 23, which will go up to 30 next year with the requirements of the new course in mind, so we need to know the equipment can support them,” he says.
Mike Turnbull, Reesink Scotland Branch Manager, comments: “We are delighted to be chosen to partner Cabot Highland at the highly prestigious courses at Castle Stuart. We look forward to meeting and exceeding James’ expectations with the Toro machinery and support their whole business from our new depot near Elgin.”
Mike Turnbull, Reesink Scotland Branch Manager, with James Hutchison.