GOLF COURSES
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There ’ s a lot of respect for Paul and his team and that ’ s because of the training they ’ ve had , the leadership they ’ ve got and the equipment that enables them to do their job .
A keen golfer , he was a committee member for 15 years and club captain in 2005-6 . Following the departure of two General Managers in quick succession , he took on the role for an initial 6-month trial period , and has successfully been in the role since 2017 .
He concluded by saying , “ There ’ s a very good atmosphere at this club , across all departments . There ’ s a lot of respect for Paul and his team and that ’ s because of the training they ’ ve had , the leadership they ’ ve got and the equipment that enables them to do their job .
Dean Taylor , Assistant Head Greenkeeper with the Ventrac at Sittingbourne & Milton Regis
missed what we call the ‘ leaf season ’, but this year with the leaf blower it ’ s going to pay dividends . Our current blower is towed behind a utility vehicle , which means that we ’ re using double the amount of fuel ; one to power the blower and the other in the tow vehicle . The Ventrac is a single unit , so we ’ re saving fuel and it can go out without marking the fairways .
“ The Tough Cut is brilliant in the deep rough and woodland margins ; it takes down brambles and saplings with ease , knocks them down and mulches them . During the main season we use the Contour deck on our tee banks , but during the winter it ’ s also used on tees , fairways and even approaches .”
General Manager Steve Bootes was previously a senior electrical technician , who spent over 25 years working in the local paper mill , with an added responsibility for training a large group of apprentices . When the paper mill closed , he spent 10 years with a local engineering company , providing electrical drives for the water industry .
“ The Ventrac is an integral part of our course maintenance plan and I ’ m now being pressured by Paul for a second machine . It ’ s not a forgone conclusion that he ’ ll get one , but we ’ ll make a good business case going forward and see what the board says .
“ From my perspective , it ’ s not just putting faith in a machine ; we must have support to ensure that it performs to its maximum and that ’ s where Price Turfcare , the Ventrac distributor , have been exemplary . As long as Paul puts in a parts order before 12 noon , he gets the item the next day . That ’ s the type of partner we want at this club .”
www . ventrac . com
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | November / December 2024 47