Panmure Golf Club in Carnoustie, Angus, has added a Wiedenmann Super 500 sweeper collector to its fleet, principally for rough management duties.
“Our last machine had over 30 years’ service; but as conditions needed to be dry for it to collect, it limited us to cutting rough in September,” explained Head Greenkeeper, Gary Nicoll.
“Changing the dynamics of the golf course at that stage of the season, didn’t suit, so we knew it was time for a replacement.”
With the arrival of the Wiedenmann Super 500 in mid-January, Gary says it has brought renewed vigour to their programme.
“Our programme was in a good place, but a few areas had become tricky and unmanageable. I always knew the new machine would turbo-charge efforts.
“We can work in different conditions, even when it is damp or if there’s frost. It just powers through. When you start it up, it just sounds efficient and full of energy, literally, it is tearing through everything, cutting and collecting in one pass.
“We cut against the way the grass is lined up, so it’s a more aggressive cut. We are also reaching into areas previously off limits. We run it with our Wiedenmann Terra Rake.
“We’re about to spray sulphate iron as we have a bit too much moss. Our rake will take out rank grasses and we’ll go in again with the flail and give it another tidy up.
“We’re just mastering how to judge the hopper capacity, but I couldn’t be more pleased with our choice.”
As well as a Wiedenmann Terra Rake and Super 500, the club has a Whisper Twister Blower and a Terra Spike GXi 8 HD deep aerator.
Installation and induction training was by Wiedenmann UK’s lead demonstrator, Andy Kerr and Mike Lindsay, Area Sales Manager, from local dealer. Fairways GM, at Kinross.
The Carnoustie site has 14 acres of managed grassland. The historic course combines the best elements of links and heathland, with tight fairways, challenging carries, undulating greens and sandhills forged by nature.
