Longhirst Hall Golf Club opts for powerful Toro for 500-acre site

By Alistair December 18, 2021 09:24 Updated

With two 18-hole championship golf courses set in 500 acres of beautiful Northumberland countryside, Longhirst Hall Golf Club, near Newcastle, required a robust fleet of greenkeeping machinery which was powerful enough to maintain the entire site.

The club was keen to find a market-leading manufacturer which could offer local support and reliable back-up care, and after test-driving a number of machines the decision was made to invest in a nine-strong fleet from Toro.

Graham Chambers, director of golf at Longhirst Hall Golf Club, comments: “I had spoken to a number of industry friends who were dedicated Toro customers and once we had a chance to trial the products ourselves, it was obvious why that was; the machines were second to none.

“The machines function as an extension of our greenkeeping team and we like the fact that they are easy to operate, robust and produce an impeccable quality of cut. Plus, with our guys operating these machines for up to eight hours a day, we need them to offer comfort too.”

With an experienced full-time mechanic on site, the club knew that working with a dependable brand like Toro would bring about less repairs, breakdowns and complications. Not only does it save money for the club, but it enables the mechanic to focus on bringing out the best in the machines by servicing them regularly and keeping on top of routine maintenance such as sharpening blades.

Having purchased the machines from approved Toro dealer, Lloyd Ltd, based in Newcastle, the club and its mechanic also have access to high-level back-up care and support, whether it’s to troubleshoot an issue or discuss ways to enhance the fleet.

Graham continues: “The Toro machines suit us so well. We are a club which offers a Florida lakeland feel across two different courses. Our Lakes Course challenges players with lots of water, while the Dawson Course has wider fairways and large greens. We need adaptable machinery that will not only work with our varying landscapes, but most importantly keep up with the sheer size of the club. It’s vast and working with Toro gives us enormous peace of mind.”

As part of the deal, Longhirst Hall Golf Club welcomed two Toro Greensmaster Triflex 3400 ride-on greensmowers, two Groundsmaster 4500-D mowers with free-floating Contour Plus cutting decks, two Reelmaster 5610-D mowers, which are powered by four-cylinder Kubota turbo diesel engines, and one Groundsmaster 360, famed for its unmatched manoeuvrability.

Graham concludes: “We are a busy club with over 1,300 members and a full schedule of hosting big events from the PGA Europro Tour to prestigious corporate away-days.

“Add to that the renewed interest in golf due to the pandemic and we need the club to look in fantastic condition all-year round. We know we can rely on our Toro fleet to deliver great results every day, maintaining the high standards that our club and members expect.”