Ecobunker take on Icelandic Challenge at Keilir Golf Club
Keilir Golf Club in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland has just completed the second phase of its bunker replacement project with industry leading synthetic faced bunker specialists, EcoBunker.
Faced with year round weather challenges and very harsh winters, the team at Keilir have been spending a disproportionate amount of their budget on maintaining the quality of their naturally revetted bunkers. Having received very positive feedback on EcoBunker’s work at Royal St. Georges, among other projects, Keilir invited the team to address the unique challenges of an Icelandic golf course.
“Maintaining the quality of traditionally revetted bunkers is such a time-consuming job,” commented Guðbjartur Ísak Ásgeirsson, Head Greenkeeper at Keilir Golf Club. “We face harsh conditions here in Iceland, and the work to keep the bunkers in good condition is difficult enough. When you add in the need for a re-build every 5 years, they eat up the maintenance budget in a way that just isn’t sustainable.”
“Keilir is such an incredible setting. The front 9 weaves a path through lava flow and the back 9 follows a small peninsular with views of a local glacier,” adds EcoBunker founder Richard Allen. “The major appeal of Keilir is the rugged landscape so I’m delighted with how our EcoBunkers have provided solutions to the maintenance challenges the team faced, while blending perfectly with the natural terrain. This has been a fantastic project for us and I look forward to the next phases.”
Phase one of the project took place this Spring with the creation of two new bunkers. Following very positive feedback from the members and maintenance team at Keilir, a further four bunkers have been installed this Autumn, with more planned for Spring 2025.
“It has actually been quicker to construct an EcoBunker that will last over 20 years than to naturally revett our bunkers. We’re delighted with the results and look forward to putting the new bunkers into play when we next open the course. I certainly look forward to a maintenance free season for our six new EcoBunkers!” concluded Guðbjartur.
For more information on how EcoBunker can help meet the maintenance and bunkering challenges at your course, visit www.ecobunker.co.uk
Reesink and Toro Combined for the Quick Winter Win
There aren’t many quick wins in life, but Reesink and Toro certainly provide one when it comes to winter machinery maintenance.
Getting ready for winter means being prepared. The work is tougher and harder for machines, and that means parts are more likely to wear out, bend, crack or damage more easily and with more frequency. But there’s no need to experience a delay to work or unnecessary downtime. Here’s a genuine take on why.
Having the reliability of Reesink as a distributor means parts delivery within 24 hours to anywhere in the UK. That level of service reduces the amount of downtime incurred, as well as making life easier.
The reassurance of having a genuine service don’t end there. It comes with a comprehensive stock reserve and local support. But significantly, customers can rely on the fact that they’re getting the genuine Toro part – and that’s a big distinction.
Going for the will-fit part means customers are not choosing the parts that are specifically built for the machine. Nor are they choosing the high-quality materials Toro is synonymous with to ensure maximum performance. Or indeed choosing parts that are rigorously tested to make sure they can withstand the daily stress that come with keeping a course or pitch in top condition.
Michael Hampton, Parts Manager at Reesink Turfcare says: “It’s not possible to make winter machinery maintenance any easier than by choosing Reesink and Toro, so while the weather might be unpredictable something you can guarantee won’t be is the quality you get from Toro and the service and support you receive from Reesink.”
But the winter wins don’t stop there. Getting ready is as simple as ordering MVP kits in advance to cover over 100 different maintenance issues such as rebuilding rollers, replacing hydraulic hoses, filter kits or even overhauling cutting units. When packaged up in one handy box customers get all the required parts and save up to 20 percent on the cost of buying the parts individually. And importantly, they are on the shelf ready to use.
And finally, never underestimate the power of simply being organised by planning in winter servicing now. After all, routine checks and preventing rather than curing problems is considerably cheaper than ad-hoc repairs and thanks to Reesink peace of mind this winter is guaranteed with its ReeAssure servicing plans and the option of three types for every budget and requirement level.
To find a Reesink branch or local Toro dealer, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call 01480 226800.
T H WHITE Groundcare Expands Portfolio with Toro Partnership
T H WHITE Groundcare has been awarded the franchise to sell Toro grounds equipment from Reesink UK, the brand’s UK distributor.
The partnership will see T H WHITE Groundcare offer ten models from Toro’s renowned range of cylinder, rotary, and flail mowers to customers across Hampshire, Dorset, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and the borough of Birmingham.
Complementing sales of the ‘Grounds’ range of equipment, T H WHITE will provide comprehensive service and parts support for the full Toro product range including ‘Golf’ products within these counties.
Toro is globally recognised for its innovative and reliable lawn care, golf, and landscape maintenance equipment. This partnership aligns with T H WHITE Groundcare’s long-standing mission to support local authorities, sports and recreation venues, private estates, and contractors with top-tier machinery, parts, and aftercare services.
Strengthened Partnership
Alastair Rowell, Managing Director of Reesink UK, welcomed the collaboration: “This partnership is an excellent addition to our UK dealer network. T H WHITE Groundcare brings great expertise, a proactive approach, and a strong commitment to service excellence. We are delighted to work with such a focused team of ground care specialists.”
T H WHITE’s Divisional Director Adrian Lovegrove shared his enthusiasm for the new partnership;
“We are extremely pleased to be working with Toro, a highly respected and desired brand in the industry. This collaboration allows us to further enhance our offering, ensuring we can provide the right machine for every bespoke application. Our excellent staff and carefully selected partners are
the cornerstone of our success, and this partnership strengthens our ability to meet the needs of our clients.”
T H WHITE Groundcare’s commitment to delivering exceptional performance and customer service continues to drive its success, and the addition of Toro to its lineup represents a significant milestone in the company’s journey to provide industry-leading ground care solutions.
The Toro “Must Have Tool” For Aeration Arrives At Royal Aberdeen
The latest club to invest in a Toro ProCore 648 aerator is Royal Aberdeen Golf Club with Course Manager Richard Johnstone declaring it a must have tool for golf aeration.
Prior to Richard’s arrival a tractor-mounted aerator was being used on the classic Scottish links course but when Richard joined the club 10 months ago it was one of the first things he looked to change.
Richard explains: “The Balgownie course in particular is known for having undulating greens and surrounds with steep slopes rising to tees situated high up in the dunes. The proximity of the tees and slopes are small and tight making it difficult for the tractor-mounted aerator to access everywhere we needed it to.”
Richard knew there was a solution, that it came from Toro and was called the ProCore 648. He says: “I was at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club for eight years as Course Manager prior to arriving in Aberdeen, where we’d had a ProCore 648 since 2013. It was nimble, manoeuvrable, effective, and easy to use. When you’ve had an experience like that with a piece of machinery you don’t tend to look any further. I did however have a team to persuade, so we enquired about getting a demo model in to ensure it was right for our particular site.
“Everyone on the team got to trial the aerator and evaluate it on a feedback sheet, and it scored very highly. The conclusion was that it was the best pedestrian aerator for our site.”
This probably isn’t too surprising for many to read. The Toro ProCore 648 is, after all, the market-leading, customer-favourite aerator that, no matter your brand preference, there’s no denying is the best in the business. A statement Richard readily agreed with: “Absolutely, it does what it’s supposed to do well.”
The ProCore arrives in time to assist in some course construction, as Richard explains: “We’re hollow coring two hectares of greens and approaches to reduce the organic matter within the profile and the cores will be used to construct a new green and approach within our practice ground. This will provide consistency and a perfect match for the type of grasses maintained across the greens within our site.”
When asked if there was anything else in terms of machine highlights, Richard didn’t hesitate in explaining just how satisfying it is to use: “It’s fast and neat whatever kind of aeration it is doing. We do a variety of solid, pencil, and hollow tine in the main and whichever you’re doing you can use it all day without feeling it. The vibrations are negligible.”
To find out more about the aerator which sets the gold standard for greens aeration, visit Reesink Turfcare at reesinkturfcare.co.uk.