Rustington Golf Centre in West Sussex has committed to an electric and more efficient future when it comes to maintaining its golf course following the arrival of two new Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 greensmowers.
The multi-purpose venue in Angmering includes a family activity centre alongside a nine-hole parkland golf course, earning it the reputation as one of the most versatile golf centres in Sussex. And with a new housing development being built next door, a versatile mower that is as quiet as it is efficient was needed.
Rob Hill, manager at Rustington Golf Centre, who has a team of eight greenstaff, says: “There’s a new housing development going up nearby, so having electric machinery gets us around the noise pollution issue and means we can work earlier without worrying about complaints – especially on parts of the course that are near the houses.”
With a golf course designed for all abilities, from established golfers to complete beginners, having machines that don’t disturb members is also a plus. “Our course is a two-loop nine-hole golf course which means you play it twice, so it’s nearly always busy and we usually have to work among the golfers,” continues Rob. “With the machines being so quiet we can go out and do work in the afternoon without being a distraction – they’re a perfect fit for us and our customers.”
It’s not just sound – or lack thereof – that Rob and his team have noticed with the eTriFlex 3370. Efficiency in daily operations across the venue has also been noted since using the industry’s first lithium-ion battery powered ride-on greensmower.
“Having these machines has made us even more efficient than usual. Being electric means we’ve reduced costs by no longer spending on diesel, and not having grease points on the machines means we’re focusing less on maintenance too. That, and the DPA cutting units, it just makes everything quicker and easier. Using the new Toro greensmowers beside some of our older machines has been eye-opening with how well they work.”
The electric greensmowers aren’t the only new Toro machinery that Rob plans for the centre. Also on order are two Toro Workman UTX utility vehicles designed to tackle all terrains.
And as far as taking the centre into the future, “I’ll be keeping an eye out for any new electric machinery that Toro comes out with,” says Rob. “We really want to go down the electric route where we can from now on, and ordering with Reesink means we can always be confident in the backup and communication it provides.”