The Mere Golf Resort & Spa in Cheshire has invested in a Ventrac all-terrain compact tractor and a selection of attachments to help maintain its golf course in tip-top condition.
Supplied by local dealer Cheshire Turf Machinery, the attachments include a contour deck, a stump grinder and a turbine blower.
The 18-hole, 6,882-yard parkland championship course at The Mere was designed by James Braid in 1934, and today enjoys a reputation as one of the best maintained and highest quality courses in the North of England.
John Quinn, who hails from Donegal in Ireland, has been the course manager for the past four years after joining the prestigious resort’s greenkeeping team seven years ago. He leads a team of 10, comprising of eight greenkeepers and two full-time gardeners.
Commenting on the addition of the Ventrac tractor to his arsenal of course machinery, Quinn said: “We are a destination resort and we pride ourselves with the visual appearance of the property and the immaculate presentation of the golf course. This Ventrac is probably the best innovation in course maintenance in the past 20 years. It will go almost anywhere and its versatility is unparalleled. It’s great in wet areas and ticks all the boxes from a health and safety point of view.”
He added: “What other machine allows you to switch out a mowing deck and attach a stump grinder, then switch again to blowing leaves? It’s an adaptable piece of equipment with an ingenious coupling system that lets you change implements in just about a minute. The eight wheels gives it a low centre of gravity, which makes it very safe on slopes, especially around tee banks and bunker surrounds.
“It’s up there with the best machines I used. It’s just a case of getting to know its capability and getting the confidence to go where no other ride-on can go. It helps us to maintain difficult areas on a regular basis and has certainly enhanced the presentation of the course.”