When rapid grass growth and challenging slopes pushed his previous mower to its limits, Hellidon Lakes course manager Gary Armstrong turned to the Trimax Snake – and halved his semi-rough mowing time in the process.

Set among steep banks, rolling fairways and unpredictable contours on the Northamptonshire–Warwickshire border, Hellidon Lakes Golf Course has never been an easy site to mow. For course manager Gary Armstrong, the challenge was simple to describe but difficult to solve: fast-growing semi-rough, heavy clippings and terrain that pushed his previous ride-on rotary mower to its limits.

“It was taking between 10 and 12 days to get a full cycle done,” Gary recalls. “By the time we’d finished, it was time to start again – and we were still leaving a lot of clippings behind.”

With productivity slipping and presentation suffering, Gary looked for alternatives. When a neighbouring club in their group reported strong results with the Trimax Snake, he agreed to test one – though with some reservations.

“Honestly, we didn’t think a trailed mower would handle our slopes and undulations,” he says. “But once we tried it, we knew we’d made the right decision.”

Cut quality that keeps up with growth

Where the previous mower struggled to stay ahead of rapid grass growth, the Snake immediately changed the rhythm of the maintenance schedule. Mowing time on the semi-rough was cut by half, enabling the team to stick confidently to a weekly rotation.

“The brief was to find a machine that would cut quickly and give a quality finish,” Gary explains. “The Snake has absolutely done that. There is an increase in cut quality because we can cover the ground much quicker.”

Speed hasn’t come at the expense of finish. Faster cycles now give the team the freedom to revisit areas if needed, preventing the build-up of long clippings and leaving a cleaner, more polished surface.

“In the spring, once we dispersed the clippings and went over it again, we quickly found we were getting a nice striped effect with virtually no clippings to be seen,” Gary says. “The presentation difference was noticeable straight away.”

Confidence on steep and varied terrain

Hellidon Lakes is defined by slopes – not gentle ones, but sharp gradients and rolling banks that have challenged equipment for years. Manoeuvring safely and efficiently on such ground has always been a core requirement.

“The Snake goes places that we thought it wouldn’t,” Gary says.

“It handles the terrain very well.”

A large part of that confidence comes from the Snake’s contour-following articulating decks, which hug the ground without scalping, and from the mower’s easy manoeuvrability. Tight turns are now simple to execute, and the ability to lift decks without disengaging the PTO allows operators to reverse into banks and corners with precision.

Gary highlights the Multi-Lift System as a standout feature: “It’s versatile and very easy to use. Being able to lift individual decks at the click of a button makes getting around trees, into narrow areas and through tight spots so much easier.”

Even in the most uneven areas, the Snake maintains a consistent finish, supporting both playability and aesthetics.

Efficiency that frees up the team

With mowing time reduced so significantly, Gary’s team now has additional capacity to focus on other essential tasks – a change he says is crucial for a busy resort course.

“When you halve the time spent on semi-rough, it opens up the rest of the week,” he notes. “We can keep the course in better shape overall.”

Operator comfort has also improved. Staff now work from an enclosed tractor cab rather than being exposed on a ride-on unit – a major benefit during long days or poor weather.

Greater flexibility across the fleet

Another key advantage for Hellidon Lakes was the flexibility of using a tractor and trailed mower combination rather than a dedicated ride-on unit.

“When the mower isn’t in use, the tractor can be used for other jobs around the course,” Gary explains.

That added versatility has helped the team maximise machinery usage across the site while giving them greater flexibility throughout the season.

Reliable low-maintenance engineering

One of the biggest operational gains has been reliability. Where previous equipment required frequent servicing and complicated repairs, the Snake has introduced a simpler, more robust mechanical setup.

“There will undoubtedly be cost savings down the line,” Gary says.

“Fuel use is down, the components are straightforward, and maintenance demands have dropped massively.”

Routine greasing remains standard, but downtime has fallen sharply. And the improved finish hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“Golfers comment on it all the time,” Gary says. “They see the quality of the cut and how tidy the course looks.”

A mower built for courses like Hellidon

Looking back at the transition, Gary is clear about the impact.

“Once we tried the Snake, we knew we’d made the right decision,” he says. “For anyone dealing with difficult terrain or tight mowing windows, the efficiency alone makes it worth it.”

From faster cycles to better presentation and a safer, more controlled performance on steep slopes, the Snake has helped Hellidon Lakes keep pace with the course – and keep it looking its best.

Because when the terrain is tough and the growth is quick, the right machine makes all the difference.

For more information about the Trimax Snake or to book a free demo visit: www.trimaxmowers.co.uk