St Andrews Links invest in electric golf course machinery

By Alistair September 23, 2020 07:07 Updated

Toro and St Andrews Links share the same commitment to innovation and the future, to meet the needs of a changing marketplace. It’s why the two have worked together in a successful partnership for so many years. And now St Andrews Links has brought in two of the brand’s all-new all-electric eTriFlex 3370 greensmowers, and a further six eTriFlex 3360 hybrid greensmowers.

The machines arrived in July and are being used on the iconic, world-famous Old Course. St Andrews Links director of greenkeeping Sandy Reid says of the machines: “Toro’s new eTriFlex machines, now being used on the Old Course, have again pushed the boundaries and are in my opinion unrivalled. The quality of cut is as to be expected from Toro, outstanding, whilst their ability to follow the contours and intricate shapes with consummate ease is breathtaking.

“They are an operator’s dream to use and maintain, and by using electric motors instead of hydraulic components, it gives us the ultimate peace of mind. Our environmental impact has also been reduced through fuel and oil savings whilst there is virtually no noise pollution whatsoever.”

But it wasn’t just the machines’ environmental credentials that appealed to Sandy: “We were due to change our fleet but decided to upgrade the model due to the innovation and environmental impact of these new mowers. But this was only part of it. Advancement in how the computer controls cut quality and machine manoeuvrability, no hydraulic oil leaks and noise reduction were all factors that were just as important to us.”

With the industry’s first lithium-ion battery powered ride-on greensmower and a ream of patented or patent-pending features bringing a host of benefits and solutions for greenkeepers, the eTriFlex 3370 incorporates features that will revolutionise the market says Toro.

Toro’s innovation could not be more evident in this machine bringing invaluable, game-changing benefits to the industry. As the quietest ride-on greensmower on the market, greenkeepers can hear the wildlife while working for the first time. Messy maintenance is no more and the combination of Toro’s ‘radius dependent speed system’ and ‘lift-in-turn’ cutting unit levelling feature virtually eliminates ‘Triplex-Ring’. While the machines’ ability to cut intricate shapes with consummate ease as detailed by Sandy is thanks to the double A Arm suspension system, with industry-leading Flex technology.

The machines were supplied by Reesink UK, the sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf and sports fields equipment and irrigation products, and managing director David Cole, comments: “The eTriFlex series sets a new industry standard for what all-electric and hybrid greensmowers should be, so it is no surprise that the ‘Home of Golf’ has embraced the latest technical innovation.”

Delivering on players’ expectations demands the best possible course conditions and that’s why selecting the right equipment and irrigation supplier has always been such an important choice for St Andrews Links. Toro has been St Andrews Links’ preferred provider for more than 18 years, and through the current partnership will be used to maintain all seven courses for years to come.

Sandy concludes: “The Toro Company have always led the way in technology, research and innovation regarding golf course machinery and over many years we have been fortunate to use the very best of equipment for maintaining the Links at St Andrews through our partnership with them.”