TOOLS , PLANT & EQUIPMENT
Trilo M3 cleans up at Ombersley Golf Club !
ver the 35 years
O that Andrew Halfpenny has been Course Manager at Ombersley Golf Club , things have changed dramatically – including the site itself , where the 18 hole parkland course has matured , creating an ever-increasing problem with leaf-fall . With mulching no longer providing a viable solution , the team took delivery of a Trilo M3 vacuum collector in October 2023 , which has proved more than capable of keeping the course clean and tidy over a busy autumn and winter season .
Andrew has clocked up an impressive 47 years with the company , and currently leads the maintenance of the Worcestershire course supported by a team of five . “ Leaves weren ’ t really too much of a problem traditionally , but as the course has matured , mulching them with a mower became unfeasible time-wise and playability-wise for the golfers ” he explains . “ We ’ ve established a fantastic relationship over the years with Tallis Amos Group so approached them to see what they could recommend to collect the leaves . They brought us the Trilo M3 , we gave it a thorough test and we bought it – simple as that !”
The M3 Multipurpose from Trilo is capable of a range of operations including scarification , cut and collection and debris clearance depending on the attachment equipped . The 1.5m working width and 3m3 hopper capacity makes it compact yet capable of year-round maintenance tasks in a variety of golf and sports turf applications .
“ It was delivered in October and was out on a weekly basis . It coped brilliantly with both the volume of leaves we had and the very wet ground . The wanderhose is a brilliant feature , great for manoeuvring around hedgerows and clearing leaves and other litter around perimeter and fence lines . We used the vacuum in conjunction with our blower , quickly removing everything we wanted to and leaving a really clean finish .” Andrew continues , “ The players noticed the difference and loved it !”
While the M3 was predominately purchased for leaf clearance Andrew foresees that , with the climatic changes he has observed during his tenure , it will find other uses . “ We see more rain , and notably more wind , which blows litter and tree-debris around the course . The M3 is our new go-to machine for keeping the course tidy .” www . vanmac . co . uk
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | May / June 2024 61