Toro Taking Care Of The Roughs And The Smooth At Bathgate
Bathgate Golf Club in West Lothian has taken delivery of a new Toro Groundsmaster 4300 rotary mower for the roughs and a used-certified Toro Workman GTX electric machine from distributor Reesink to aid the smooth running of the course.
The Toro Workman GTX machine brings electric power to the club in the most sustainable of ways having had a life before Bathgate at another club.
Found through Reesink’s ReeOwn scheme, which sees clubs able to access the best used Toro machinery available in the UK, it has been through a multipoint check by trained technicians at Reesink Scotland and came with a comprehensive 12-month warranty.
Head greenkeeper Peter Smith says: “The machine had very few hours on it and had been thoroughly checked over by the Reesink team so what we got felt like new really. It was an incredibly reasonable purchase and more economical than buying a new diesel/petrol machine.
“As with any utility vehicle, its primary job is to make life easy around the course, aid its smooth running, and it does just that, equal to or exceeding its diesel/petrol counterpart.”
Coinciding with the Workman, was the arrival of a Toro Groundsmaster 4300 rotary rough mower. Cutting the rough grass at Bathgate Golf Club can be challenging as the total area comprise the largest span of turf to maintain and typically house the areas with the most obstructions such as trees, bushes and bunkers etc. so there’s some work to be put in especially when being used daily like as is the case here.
Peter articulates that the Toro Groundsmaster 4300 has been delivering on all fronts: “This machine has been going out daily since it arrived in June and we’re really impressed with the quality of cut, the finish it leaves behind and the speed with which it gets the job done”.
Call 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk, or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk. Reesink Turfcare UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
SALTEX Maintains Position as Europe’s Leading Grounds Management Show
SALTEX provides a boost to the industry once again
SALTEX 2023 welcomed over 7,900 visitors to the bustling two-day exhibition. But it’s not just the quantity of visitors that was so impressive in the face of Storm Ciaran, but the quality, say show organisers, the GMA.
Geoff Webb, CEO, Grounds Management Association says: “The show data demonstrates that SALTEX continues to deliver on an extremely high level of quality attendees: 25 percent of visitors hold senior managerial positions at their place of work and nearly 80 percent play a role in the purchasing decision-making.”
It’s certainly a view held by exhibitors too as Rob Edwards, marketing manager of tractor business unit at Kubota, confirms: “Without doubt, SALTEX ‘23 was a great success for Kubota. As the leading event in the UK for grounds management, it was the ideal way for us to showcase our range, as well as launch our innovative new products to the market.
“The format, where products, services, forums, and training are brought together in one place attracts the right customers and we were very busy throughout the show. The GMA does an excellent job of delivering SALTEX, and we are very pleased with the sales, press and marketing opportunities that the show delivered.”
This year, visitors attended from every corner of the UK, as well as a growing international attendance from across the globe. It’s clear that the global appeal of the show continues to grow, with a 20 percent increase in international exhibitors attending SALTEX this year.
The addition of new feature areas including The Clubhouse brought together people from across different sporting communities including women in turf and the cricketing world. The exciting new Community Sports Zone, also saw buoyant business which proved of great benefit to the grassroots and volunteer audience.
Geoff Webb adds, “SALTEX has delivered for the industry once again – it’s the perfect platform to showcase the UK turf sector globally and is a success story for the UK as a whole. For the show to maintain its position as the leading free grounds management show in Europe is testament to how highly regarded and valuable the show is perceived to be in the industry.”
SALTEX will be back at Birmingham NEC on 30-31 October 2024.
BIGGA accepts generous donation for Benevolent Fund from Origin Enterprises staff
The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has accepted a generous donation from Origin Enterprises after staff at the agri-services organisation selected the Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund as one of its charities of the year.
Origin Enterprises is the parent company of Origin Amenity Solutions, a BIGGA Premium Partner, and employees nominated the benevolent fund for a donation of £1,200 as part of a ‘Spring into Action’ campaign.
The Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund is the official charity of BIGGA. It exists to assist current or past members and their dependents, to provide financial support and practical help during difficult times.
Speaking at SALTEX, where he accepted the donation on behalf of the association, BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “We all hope never to need the support that a benevolent fund can provide, yet we also know that times are tough for many. If a grant or offer of support can relieve some of the burden and help as a family tries to get back on track, then any small donation can prove priceless. The heartfelt thanks of everyone at BIGGA goes out to our colleagues at Origin Amenity Solutions for this wonderful gesture.”
Origin Amenity Solutions Commercial Director Andy Russell added: “I am delighted that we were able to make this donation to such a worthy cause. Working with, and giving back to the community, is high on our agenda and this is a charity that aligns closely with our values.
“Our teams around the business have been challenged to Spring into Action with a series of fitness-based activities. We had colleagues swimming, running, walking, planting trees, and cycling – anything they chose that got them moving and raised much-needed money for the benevolent fund.”
Head to the BIGGA website for more information about the Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund.
Donations for the benevolent fund are accepted via the membership renewal form, directly to BIGGA HQ or via the JustGiving website.
For more about BIGGA, you can visit their website and follow them on Twitter.
Weathering Winter
Go genuine for best return with Toro and Reesink
Winter servicing, it’s a job that’s got to be done, and there are a few simple guidelines to aid the process: choose Toro genuine parts for an improved total cost of ownership (TCO).
When it comes to choosing machinery parts, TCO, the data driven perspective for determining the economic value of the investment, stands up for parts just as much as when choosing a machine.
Getting the very best TCO and return on investment when it comes to parts is simple: buy genuine. Performance (productivity), reliability (downtime) and durability (longevity for residual value) are all enhanced and guaranteed when the parts are built specifically for the machine.
So just how genuine is genuine? Michael Hampton, parts manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “It’s the quality of the design and the unparalleled attention to detail that make the difference for Toro machinery. It’s the same with Toro parts.”
The Toro parts Reesink sells for aftermarket service are the same parts used on the production lines to build the original equipment; all manufactured with reliable, high-quality materials to ensure maximum performance with less downtime. As Michael says: “It doesn’t get much more genuine than that.
“They’ve all been tested and retested to make sure they can withstand the daily stress that keeping the course in top condition demands, even in the cold, snowy, frosty, damp or hard conditions of winter.”
Michael continues: “In challenging economic times, it’s natural to look for ways to cut expenses, but substituting for will-fit parts shouldn’t be one of them. That’s one area where the initial savings can often cost more down the road. Genuine Toro parts are designed to help keep equipment running like the day it was bought, stretch that investment further and stay more productive in the long run.”
Looking after machines properly during winter means that come springtime, they are in the best possible condition but using Toro genuine parts means they’ll be in the best possible condition for years to come too.
Reesink offers industry-leading fill rates and delivery within 24 hours on most parts, and it has schemes to take care of routine maintenance. There are three ReeAssure schemes all of which make servicing easy and flexible according to requirements and finances. And, of course, for guaranteed reliability, only genuine parts are used.
To stock up on Toro parts or for winter machinery maintenance advice, customers can get in touch with their local Toro genuine parts dealer or service centre or contact Reesink via reesinkturfcare.co.uk.