Sale Golf Club in Greater Manchester now operates three new John Deere mowers supplied by local John Deere dealer Turner Groundscare of Tarvin, near Chester, after the club had previously opted for competitive makes when replacing older machines.

This time round course manager Chris Hulme, supported by the club and committee members, decided to cast his net further afield and explore other options, including John Deere’s new hybrid electric mower technology. Chris and his greens staff now run a 2500 E-Cut greens mower, a 7700 PrecisionCut fairways mower and a 7400 TerrainCut rotary surrounds mower, in addition to a petrol-engined CX Gator utility vehicle.

The photograph shows (front left and right) Sale Golf Club course manager Chris Hulme
with dealer Kevin Pickering of Turner Groundscare, the greenkeeping team
and their new John Deere machines (seated, left to right):
Kevin Brown, Harry Kent, Tom Hendly and Roy Whitby. 

With 35 years’ service at the club under his belt, Chris is in a very good position to judge Sale’s course maintenance equipment needs, and in this case the deal negotiated with area sales manager Kevin Pickering of Turners met a number of key criteria.

Chris has always been concerned about the environmental impact of golf course maintenance operations, and he was keen to ensure that any new purchases would provide the greenest possible solutions.

“Oil leaks are a nightmare for any greenkeeper, and I was particularly anxious to minimise the chances of this happening on our greens,” he says. “I’ve searched for an alternative to hydraulic machinery for a long time, and John Deere’s hybrid electric mower fitted the bill.”

The 2500E mower dramatically reduces the potential for oil leaks by removing all the hydraulics from the cutting reel circuit, and this proved a major factor in his choice. The mower’s innovative design also helps to optimise fuel consumption and makes it quieter in operation, without compromising cut quality.

A demonstration of the three-wheel drive 7400 rotary mower with its adjustable ‘Width on Demand’ system also made a good impression. “In selecting a new supplier I was committed to specifying like-for-like machines that would be at least as good, if not better, than our previous makes,” says Chris.

As a private members club, Sale reflects a growing trend among more traditional clubs that are keen to gain the maximum possible value for money from course maintenance machinery as well as other aspects of club provision. John Deere’s next day parts delivery capability and the dealer’s fully supportive aftersales service also proved key factors in Chris Hulme’s final decision.