Already an exclusive Toro user, when the need arose for a new rough mower and sprayer, Simon Plummer, course manager at Wiltshire’s Ogbourne Downs Golf Club, looked no further and opted for the Toro Groundsmaster 4500-D and the Multi Pro 1750-D sprayer.
Designed by five-time Open Championship winner J.H. Taylor, Ogbourne Downs is an 18-hole course set in 200 acres of downland terrain on the Marlborough Downs. Simon, who has been at the club for seven years, says: “The Groundsmaster 4500-D will be an integral and important machine in our fleet. There is a lot of grass to cut and the roughs make up the largest area on the course, so it is important they are manicured and striped to give the right appearance. The 4500-D has got the rollers to create the traditional stripe aesthetic we’re after, plus it can withstand the demands of our course.”
Along with being a downland course Ogbourne Downs is set on a hillside with valleys all around, innate contours and sweeping undulations. It is a chalky, fast-draining course, that’s always open with never a temporary tee or green, and this poses its own set of challenges.
Simon explains: “The nature of the course means we need a machinery fleet capable of coping with its high demands. Its undulations and slopes, while beautiful, make it a challenge to cut. We choose exclusively Toro, because with their durability, traction and manoeuvrability, none of these things are a problem for any of the machines.”
With the emerging need for a new sprayer and considering the Sustainable Use Directive’s legislation, Simon opted for the Toro Multi Pro 1750-D. He says: “There has been a lot of press recently regarding sprayers and their usage with the new legislation coming in, and it was good timing in some respects that we needed a new a sprayer and are now ready for the legislation coming into force in November. It’s good to know the sprayer is registered, has had its first test and is now on the system ready for its next check at when it’s 12 months old. The difference between this sprayer and our new one is huge and makes it very evident why this legislation is a good idea. We mainly use our sprayer once a month with foliar feed and the precision of the spray is so accurate, we can pinpoint exactly the areas we need to spray. It is, without question, better for the environment, more economical and better for the operator and people around.”
In addition to the Toro GM4500-D and Multi-Pro sprayer 1750, the club has also taken delivery recently of a Greensmaster 3250-D to be a dedicated tees mower.
Simon concludes by saying: “The club is on the up. Thanks to a combination of a lot of things including a new management team and the course playing really well, we’ve seen an increase in membership and profitability recently.”
Toro turf products are distributed throughout mainland UK by Lely Turfcare, 1 Station Road, St Neots PE19 1QH. Call 01480 226800, email turfcare.uk@lely.com or visit www.lelyturfcare.co.uk / www.toro.com for further details. And in Ireland by Lely Ireland Limited, Kilboggin, Nurney, Co. Kildare. Call 00 353 (0)45 526170 or email turfcaresales.ie@lely.com
Ogbourne Downs Golf Club www.ogbournedowns.co.uk