Hogs
Head Golf Club, a brand-new course located in County Kerry, Ireland, has chosen
equipment from Textron Golf (Jacobsen, E-Z-GO and Cushman) to maintain its
surfaces.
The
course replaces Skellig Bay Golf Club and has been built in the picturesque
town of Waterville, with golfer’s able to enjoy spectacular views of the Irish
coast and Atlantic Ocean.
Local
dealer Broderick Grass Machinery demonstrated and delivered the new machinery.
The
machinery purchased by the Club includes three LF577 fairway mowers, one AR522
rough mower, one AR-3 rotary mower, two GP400 greens mowers, two Eclipse 322
greens mowers, 10 Greens King mowers for tees and greens, a Jacobsen Truckster,
two ISEKI tractors, 20 E-Z-GO RXV ELiTE Freedom golf cars and a Cushman Hauler
PRO.
David
Daly is the golf course superintendent at Hogs Head Golf Club. Commenting on
the opening of the new course, and the equipment purchased, he said: “This is a very exciting time for everyone involved in
this project. We started construction in March 2016 where we used 150,000
tonnes of sand to cap all playing areas with eight inches of sand. The course
will play firm, fast and dry all year round. It has been an eye-opening
experience, but the results speak for themselves.
“We chose equipment from Textron
Golf because Jacobsen was recommended by Michael Murphy at Waterville Golf
Links, and I have used the machines in the past and they have always been very
good. The technology on the Eclipse is the best you’ll find, and it also
provides us with a fantastic quality of cut. I am also very impressed with the
LF577; it now takes us half the time to cut the fairways than it used to on the
old course.
“A crucial part of the
decision-making process was the relationship with the dealer and the back-up
support we would receive. This is where Brodericks, and our local dealer Pat
Geaney, really made our minds up for us. The companies both provide the best service
around, and I know I can have parts delivered the same day if needed. I’m very
happy with the equipment from Textron Golf, and the support from our dealers.”
Niall
Moran is the general manager at Hogs Head Golf Club, and was responsible for
the purchase of the new E-Z-GO ELiTE Freedom golf cars. He said: “Investing in these golf cars was a no-brainer for the
Club. They deliver the best performance, save us the most money by reducing
electricity bills, and are light on the course which prevents damage.
"We
have put a lot of resources into course maintenance equipment, so we want to
ensure that the surfaces are protected as much as possible, and the new golf
cars provide us with this. We’ll be using them on the golf course and for
transporting people from the hotel to the course and vice versa.”
E-Z-GO
ELiTE Series vehicles use Samsung SDI lithium technology, providing
high-efficiency, zero-maintenance battery power and a five-year,
unlimited-amp-hour warranty.
The
innovative technology has reduced the weight of the golf cars, meaning that
there is less wear on the course, and charging time has been halved, saving
golf clubs money and resources.
The
course is the first in Ireland designed by the RTJ II firm, and has been
planted with three varieties of fescue grasses – all of which are native to the
Irish coast.
The
18-hole golf course will be complemented by a 48-room lodge and spa opening in
May 2018, and five four-bedroom golf cottages. The lodge and cottages are being
built on the site of the old hotel, which has since been demolished.
A
new state-of-the-art clubhouse has also been built on-site and is welcoming
visitors to experience the impressive facilities.
