Brett Vale Golf Club in Dedham Vale, Suffolk, is already reporting “a real difference” in its greens having recently replaced a mainly Toro fleet with the latest Toro ride-on models.

TriFlex Hybrid at work at Brett Vale. 

Clive Pinnion, course manager, has been with the privately-owned club for 23 years, during which he has seen a number of developments, including equipment changes.

Since the club replaced their greens triples with the latest hybrid Greensmaster 3420-D riding mowers last summer, Clive says he is really pleased with the effect the new machines are having on the greens.

“The quality of cut delivered by these new machines is just so much better than our previous models, with a more consistent finish,” he says. “The electric motors are counterbalanced with a weight at the other end of the unit and I think this extra weight, plus the A-arm mounts, has really helped the units hug the sward better. The finish really is first-class”.

Adding that he mows the greens to 4mm in summer and 5mm in winter, Clive says he will reduce the height of cut to a tight 2.5mm for tournaments, producing ‘glassy’ greens known locally for their speed and consistency. 

Continuing, he says: “We replaced our existing Toro RM6700-D seven gang fairway mower with a new model too, but specified groomers and brushes for the units. The groomers have made a real difference, picking up the sward and producing a really excellent finish. 

“Although we still cut the fairways to 16mm, the members initially thought I had reduced the height of cut, such was the improvement in the finish to the fairways and the speed of the ball. They soon got used to the new feel of the fairways and now tell me how much better they play than some other courses they visit.” 

Of equal importance is the mower’s performance, explains Clive. “The membership get up early to play the course in summer but I can still cut all the fairways and be comfortably finished ahead of them.”

The Toro Groundsmaster 4700-D seven-unit rotary mower has exceeded his expectations, delivering a quality, striped finish on both the roughs and semi-roughs. It also delivers superior traction, enabling difficult and steep areas to be mown without any issues, even when wet.

“I am a stickler for stripes, always ensuring the stripes of the greens and fairways contrast with the shading of the semi-roughs to provide a clear pattern between them,” he explains. 

“The rotary units on the 4700-D have rollers and the finish we achieve behind the mower is excellent with well-distributed clippings and even height of cut. The mower is at work pretty much full time in season too so it really does earn its keep.” 

Since Brett Vale Golf Club opened back in 1993, its reputation has seen the strong and active membership continue to grow. 

“We are constantly aerating, treating and tending the course, but thanks to the investment made by club owner Chris Waters, both historically as well as in recent months, we really are on top of the job.

“I have seen a number of changes over the years, with the demands of players increasing year on year. We chose Toro because it suits our demands and I am really pleased with the new models we are now using,” Clive adds. 

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Image caption: TriFLex Hybrid at work at Brett Vale.