Presentation is of great importance at Overstone Park Golf Club in Northamptonshire, since the club is part of a leisure resort where hotel guests and second home owners enjoy a luxury health club as well as the 18-hole golf course. This year Overstone Park Golf Club is proud to be hosting both the men’s and ladies’ County Championships.
Although it was built just 18 years ago, a continual improvement programme seeks to enhance the visual appeal of the course and provide an enjoyably challenging round of golf. This Spring, for example, the fourth green adjacent to the magnificent lake was reconstructed with a retaining sleeper wall.
Equipment is also chosen to provide the best possible surface which looks as good as it plays. Course manager David Bevan has recently taken delivery of a Sisis Flexibrush, designed to groom and stand up the sward as well as removing dew, using floating v-brush sections.
“Brushing away the dew dries the turf, reducing the risk of disease,” comments David. “In winter, standing up the sward really improves presentation and reduces the frequency of mowing required.”
The Flexibrush is 5.35m wide, giving a generous output on fairways and roughs, but is light enough to be handled by a compact tractor. It also folds for transport and storage, with convenient parking legs allowing easy and safe storage in the shed.
“The rear springs allow the brush to follow ground contours, producing a consistent result on undulating fairways,” he explains. “I also like the action of the V-brushes which brush the grass in both directions for an improved finish and really get into the sward.”
Another benefit, he points out, is that the V-sections can be interchanged and turned round as the bristles begin to wear, prolonging their life.
David has also a Sisis Multislit and a fairway slitter, so he is familiar with the company’s durable, high quality products.
“I knew that the equipment and back-up is spot on, and although there are cheaper brushes on the market, with this kind of equipment you get what you pay for. The Sisis Flexibrush is really well built and durable,” he comments.
The Sisis Flexibrush was supplied by RT Machinery, and David says not only has he received excellent service from both Sisis and the dealer, but also received advice on setting up and operating the new machine.
“We have only just started using the Sisis Flexibrush, but I am very pleased with its performance and expect to get a lot of use out of it this season,” he says. “I have already recommended it to a fellow course manager!”
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Overstone Park Golf Club www.overstonepark.com