Latest agreement signing takes relationship to over 30 years
Royal Portrush Golf Club, one of the world’s greatest links courses situated in Northern Ireland, has signed a new long-term agreement to continue working with Toro and Reesink Turfcare, taking its relationship with the two brands to over 30 years.
Course Manager Graeme Beatt confirms the reasons why he felt comfortable committing to a significantly longer deal is down to the machine quality, reliability, and the relationships.
“We have a great working relationship with Reesink. We get great support and it’s a friendship now too. The reliability and quality of the Toro equipment delivers what we need so we were comfortable doing a deal that was double the time frame than what we’ve done previously.
From season to season, we’re busy with members and events so we maintain the courses at a tournament standard year-round with Toro.
A new long-term agreement between Royal Portrush Golf Club and Reesink Turfcare has been completed. Seated front from left: Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager – Reesink Turfcare and Danny Campbell, General Manager, Royal Portrush. Standing from left: Graeme Beatt, Course Manager, Royal Portrush, David Timms, National Accounts Manager, Reesink Turfcare and Andy Keys, Keys Brothers.
The Club has had a wonderful relationship with Toro for more than three decades and we’re delighted to extend it even further. Graeme’s team produce the best surfaces all year round and their dedication, along with the support of Toro, enable us to continually deliver our courses to the highest standard.
This new deal was signed in June as Graeme and the team were preparing to host the club’s third Open.
The club’s team of 30 staff and an international support team of 18 used a complete fleet of Toro equipment including battery-powered ride-on greens mowers, fairway mowers and utility vehicles, plus a new state-of-the-art Toro Lynx Central Control System to achieve the ideal playing conditions for the 2025 event which saw Scottie Scheffler fire a three-under 68 to claim a four-stroke victory over Harris English.
In addition, the club welcomed four Toro Vista shuttles configured for four, six and eight passengers to aid personnel transportation around the site.
The new Toro Vista shuttles have been branded to the club’s specifications.
There were changes to the way the Toro machinery was used for the Championship; the biggest, Graeme told us, was that the electric ride-on mowers were used for the greens instead of hand cutting as was the case in 2019.
“The precision and technology of the Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 ride-on mower is such that the results are equal to a hand mower,” says Graeme. “This was an approach favoured by St Andrews and Royal Troon when they hosted The Open. Eliminating the chance of an oil leak brings peace of mind.”
Royal Portrush is hosting the 153rd Open with help from Toro and Reesink. Picture shows Graeme Beatt, Course Manager, Royal Portrush, on the iconic Dunluce Links.
The irrigation system upgrade, which included replacing all sprinkler heads with Infinity and B Series across both courses, brought precision and control to cope with an unseasonably dry season and overall, Graeme found the individually controlled irrigation heads gave precise control over watering: “They ensure only the exact amount needed is used and mean we can achieve our goals without wastage.”
Our relationship with Royal Portrush is 35 years strong and to provide Graeme and the team with all the equipment, backup, and support they need to not only make hosting their third Open a success, but to continue producing Championship quality surfaces for years to come is an honour.
From left, Reesink’s David Timms and Jon Cole with Royal Portrush’s Danny Campbell and Graeme Beatt.