Felixstowe Ferry Golf Course, in Suffolk, says the value, productivity and longevity of Toro machinery were major contributing factors when signing a second five-year Toro agreement, while also citing its long-standing relationship with Lely of equal importance behind the decision.

Head greenkeeper Glenn Rayfield explained: “When you sign a five-year agreement to exclusively use one brand for five years, it’s so important the relationship with the distributor is right. I trust in Lely and Julian Copping, my contact at Lely, to know the support and back-up will always be there and any problems will be solved immediately.

“But the machines have to live up to our requirements and expectations, too, and Toro does, we wouldn’t have signed our second agreement to be an exclusive Toro customer, if it didn’t.”

Head greenkeeper Glenn Rayfield, centre, with Lely’s Julian Copping, left, and Andy Branton of TNS Group.

With high expectations on the performance of the machines to reach the club’s objectives to “enhance the links feel of the course and restore some of its original features”, Glenn and his greenkeeping team of five want to know that the machines can withstand the rigours of hard work on a course hard underfoot.

“We are not a ‘grass factory’, the ground is compact and hard and we need to know that that the machines can be out for a good 40 hours a week with no down time. All the machines we’ve gone for are replacement ones apart from the greens mower. We opted for two Greensmaster TriFlex 3400s this time and we’re glad we did, they are very impressive. We also added DPA cutting units to our replacement fairway mower, the Reelmaster 6700. It’s a really tough machine that works well on our course, and now the cutting units also give us the precise cut we’re after.”

Glenn, has worked his way up through the ranks at the 27-hole course which is the fifth oldest in all of England. He says: “I started at the club as an apprentice, before going on to first assistant, deputy greenkeeper, head greenkeeper and now course manager, a position I’ve held for six years. In that time I have experienced all brands of machinery and have learnt to appreciate a quality product. You can cut with any machine but using a Toro machine allows you to cut with absolute confidence.”

And that combined with the absolute confidence Glenn has in distributor Lely makes for a partnership worthy of its second renewal agreement.

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Image caption: Head greenkeeper Glenn Rayfield, centre, with Lely’s Julian Copping, left, and Andy Branton of TNS Group.