Why Bedfordshire Golf Club has been a Toro customer for 18 years

By Alistair February 9, 2019 09:36 Updated

Bedfordshire Golf Club has been a Toro customer for 18 years and attributes much of this relationship longevity to the service received from Reesink Turfcare.

Part-way through its third five-year agreement with Toro and Reesink course manager John Gubb says he’s remained loyal because “Reesink gives you the premier service you’d expect for a brand like Toro.”

He elaborates: “We’ve been using Toro for quite some time because reliable and hardwearing machines are vital for this course. However, when you sign an agreement with Toro and Reesink it’s not just high-quality machines you’re getting, it’s the whole package.

“It’s every aspect of the experience and service,” says John. “From dealing with the Reesink rep, Julian Copping, to everyone on the parts and servicing team. We have a really good working relationship with them all, which is what you expect when you’re working with the best.”

But it’s not just that, Toro and Reesink have proven to go above and beyond to help the club when it needed it most. Since the club’s relocation eighteen years ago, major floods in 2000, 2007 and two in 2008 hit the course, but with Toro came a helping hand.

“They lent us utility vehicles and pedestrian mowers to help get the course back on track, as our equipment sheds were inaccessible because of the flood water,” John explains. “The loaned machines helped enormously in the turf’s subsequent recovery.”

The most recent addition to the fleet is a replacement Groundsmaster 4100-D for use on the roughs. John says: “We’ve actually sold on our older model to another local club. It’s been an incredibly reliable machine for the last 13 years and still has life in it yet, but for us, the new model means we can stay up to date with Toro’s latest technology.”

With its SmartPower system, the Groundsmaster 4100-D is the perfect combination of power and performance, and better for the environment. For John, there’s no question the hardwearing machine fits the requirements of the club’s 150-acres, made up of an 18 hole course and 9 hole academy course.

“With a large area to cover, having robust and durable equipment is an absolute must,” he says. “We’ve only had the new Groundsmaster for a short time, but already you can see how the new features have improved the machine.”

Looking at how the course has progressed since introducing Toro, John reflects: “We have over 600 playing members in total, and they all expect a high-quality playing surface. And let’s just say that there are no complaints from them when it comes to the course and the greenkeeping equipment.”

He concludes: “There’s nothing out there that beats Toro. So, it’s a no-brainer to keep updating the fleet. With Toro, we’re safe in the knowledge the machines will last, but we can also make use of updates in their technology to keep the club at the top of its game.”