Leeds Golf Centre in West Yorkshire has teed off for spring with their new GKB Sandfiller, which was delivered in January. The Centre, situated between Leeds and Harrogate, is one of the North’s premier golf complexes and comprises the Wike Ridge 18 hole championship course, the Oaks par-3 course, Leadbetter Golf Academy and the 6 hole Footgolf Leeds.
The decision to buy the GKB Sandfiller came about from a conversation between Head Greenkeeper Chris Green and Paul Nicholls at Russell’s Groundcare, which led to a demonstration.
“We were looking for as tractor mounted machine for the greens maintenance,” says Chris, “and we were very impressed with the GKB Sandfiller and the job it does.”
The new machine arrived shortly after BTME, where it was on display on the GKB stand. What Chris likes about it in particular is the way all the sand goes into the ground, the collection of all the thatch and the fact it is so much less labour intensive, freeing people up for other work around the course. The Sandfiller provides a fast solution to drainage with economic and environmentally friendly intensive aeration, while being cost-effective with its all-in-one combination of aeration and sand filling. The material removed from the top layer by verticutting is collected immediately in a sideways tipping container.
“We prefer it to hollow core and it brings the green back into play straight away,” Chris says, “it’s not intrusive to the golfers and means we can keep the course open. Given that the Sandfiller will be in constant use, and came at a very good price, it is proving to be the most economical, labour saving solution for us.”
GKB Sandfiller www.gkbmachines.com
Leeds Golf Centre http://www.leedsgolfcentre.com