GROUNDSKEEPING & EQUIPMENT
Andy Garland (right) together with
David Fisher of George Browns Ltd
NEW VERTI-DRAIN HELPS
THE CENTURION CLUB
PREPARE FOR UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN
Andy Garland, Course Manager at
Hertfordshire’s Centurion Club,
is working on improving course-
wide surface drainage with a little
help from his new Verti-Drain 7521.
Focussing on the fairways, his latest
bit of kit from Charterhouse Turf
Machinery, will be fundamental as
club preparations ramp up to host
the 2020 UL International Crown
event.
Televised to millions, 2020 will be
the fourth edition of the Women’s
Professional tournament and the
first time it will be hosted in the
UK. Andy and his greens team of 12
are already well into preparations
to ensure the course is fit for a
worldwide audience. “When it
comes to aeration, we have a small
machine for use on the greens, but
we had been hiring in a unit for
work on the fairways” he explains.
“The trouble with that was, the
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effectiveness of the work conducted
was very much at the mercy of the
weather and the resulting ground
conditions on that day.”
With previous experience of
Verti-Drains, Andy spoke with his
local dealer Browns and had a
demonstration of the 7521 model.
“You know what you’re going to get
with a Verti-Drain – the ability to
use different tines to work at good
depths and build quality that can
handle compacted soils.” Having
taken delivery of his new machine
complete with different head
options in August, the 7521 has been
busy on the fairways, together with
some deep aeration work on the
greens.
“We equipped the Verti-Drain with 1”
tines and aerated all of the fairways
which instantly improved surface
drainage. Water dispersal has been
so much better which is crucial as
we head towards the winter period.
We hope to get one more round
done on all 18 holes before the
tractor gets put onto renovation
projects over the winter. This should
help us emerge in spring ready for
full tournament preparation.” Andy
concludes, “By having our own Verti-
Drain we can be flexible around
the weather conditions and the
maintenance schedule to maximise
its effectiveness. It will be a key tool
as we get ready for our big event
next summer.”
Charterhouse Turf Machinery Ltd.,
Weydown Industrial Estate,
Weydown Road, Haslemere, Surrey
GU27 1DW UK
Tel: +44 (0)1428 66122
Fax: +44 (0)1428 661218
[email protected]
www.charterhouse-tm.co.uk
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