The exclusive nine-hole private members’ club, Golfpark Groendael, situated on the North Sea coast 30 kilometers northwest of Rotterdam, has recently taken a fleet of course maintenance equipment from Pols Groep, Ransomes Jacobsen’s distributor for the Netherlands.

The club, which opened in 2008 has 350 members and is renowned for the high quality of its greens. It also features a modern, purpose designed clubhouse with excellent dining facilities, a small gymnasium, sauna and Turkish bath.

Marco Wouters is the head greenkeeper and employs three key staff, which increases by two or three in the high season, to maintain the course which is set in 21 hectares of coastal dunes. He began his career in greenkeeping at the age of 15, in the Dordrecht area some 20 years ago before moving into golf course construction, working in Spain and the Czech Republic. He was assistant head greenkeeper at Goiyer Golf and Country Club southwest of Amsterdam and arrived at Groendael five years ago during the grow-in period.

Head greenkeeper Marco Wouters

“Everything we do here is about quality,” he said, “and the new fleet will certainly help us as we continue to improve the playing surfaces here at Groendael. We have both Eclipse walk-behinds and ride-on mowers as I like the new technology they bring to the golf course. We are close to a residential area with housing bordering one side of the course. That’s why I specified the petrol hybrid riding Eclipse 322, because it is a very quiet mower and will cause less disturbance to our neighbours.”

Elsbeth Offerhaus is the general manager and is responsible for day-to-day operations. Commenting on the new fleet she said, “We are renown in the area for the quality of everything we do here at Groendael. From the clubhouse with its homely atmosphere and exceptional restaurant to the high standard of golf that we offer, we aim provide the very best for our members. This new equipment will ensure that Marco and his team take the course to an even higher level.”