Head greenkeeper Gary McKie at Nelson Golf Club, Lancashire had a
very specific reason for choosing a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD in April.
“The main attraction was to be able to aerate during the season
knowing it caused little disturbance," said.
"You want golfers not to notice. We’ve been out mostly with
8mm tines so far. They’re good to use in season. If you are out on a
Monday, by Tuesday people can hardly tell. Crucially you can still get down 10”
and the job’s been done.”
Gary took over his post in May 2017 at the Dr Alister MacKenzie
designed course which sits on a plateau over Nelson and Burnley, and boasts
breath taking panoramic views across both Lancashire and Yorkshire.
At his previous job with Pleasington GC, Gary became familiar with
the GXi8 HD, so was well versed in the speed and efficiency it could achieve.
“The machine will be in use regularly, not just on tees and greens
but walkways and approaches. We’ve been out three times over the green and once
on the tees so far. On a long day we can get around all 18 greens or we can
just leave two for the next day, it’s that quick. We’ve been varying the
depth and if we want to put a little bit of heave we can, by just making one
adjustment.
“Later in the year, probably towards the end of October, we will
hollow core a couple of specific areas. Our agronomist has suggested sections
on two of the fairways that have a little bit of moss. That’s where the
flexibility of the Wiedenmann works well - you can deep tine and hollow tine
equally easy.”
Local Wiedenmann UK dealer to Nelson GC is Balmers GM with ground
care specialist Andrew Meeks, providing after sales service and support from
their Burnley depot.
