The Grove has secured a long-term partnership with Toro and Reesink UK, extending a 22-year relationship and ushering in a new era of integrated turf management at the Hertfordshire resort.
The 10-year agreement builds on a relationship that has existed since The Grove opened more than two decades ago. It covers a full machinery fleet renewal alongside the installation of a new irrigation system across the entire course.
The Grove’s leadership team put the deal out to competitive tender involving multiple manufacturers before selecting Toro as its strategic partner for another decade.
“We’ve been a loyal Toro customer since the beginning,” said Will Evans, Agronomy and Facilities Director at The Grove. “And when we reviewed the complete solutions package, it quickly became clear it was again the right fit for us, especially with the irrigation system involved, new technologies emerging and the way the machinery and irrigation systems could work seamlessly together.
“Partnering with Reesink meant we could manage everything through one provider, making the decision even more straightforward.”
Alongside the fleet update, the deal includes significant investment in Toro’s digital technologies, designed to transform turf management through real-time data and precision control. Fleet management and GPS spraying technology, moisture-responsive irrigation and autonomous mowing will work together to enhance efficiency, sustainability and course conditioning.
Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager at Reesink Turfcare, said the agreement positions both parties at the forefront of innovation in UK golf course management: “By integrating Toro’s most advanced software solutions into operations, The Grove is positioning itself as a leader in modern, high-performance turf management.”
The agreement also reinforces The Grove’s status as a designated Toro showcase venue, where customers and industry partners can experience the latest machinery, irrigation and autonomous mowing innovations in a live working environment.
“We’ve had a close working relationship with Toro and have supported its presence in the UK market for many years,” said Evans. “It’s exciting to see emerging technologies and new products demonstrated on our course and play a role in introducing them to UK customers.”
The transition to a full wall-to-wall irrigation system is scheduled, with The Grove having already trialled Toro irrigation on reconstructed areas of the course and reported strong early results.
Reesink UK and dealer Oliver Landpower will support the deal with technical assistance, weekly on-site visits and ongoing training for The Grove’s greenkeeping and mechanical teams.
“Our relationship with The Grove dates to 2002, before the venue opened, when we supplied its initial fleet of Toro machinery, and there have been many milestones in that time,” said Glen Giddings of Oliver Landpower.
“In 2006, when The Grove hosted the AMEX Championship, one of our Master Technicians was on permanent standby, supporting early-morning machinery preparation, re-grinding and technical requirements to ensure tournament-grade performance. Now, we’ve transitioned from a supplier partnership into a trusted and collaborative relationship.”
For more information, visit reesinkuk.co.uk