Head greenkeeper Ryan Mclaughlin at Windyhill GC, Bearsden, readily admits his first winter in charge of the course was more of a challenge then he’d bargained.
The East Dunbartonshire club sits at the foot of the Kilpatrick Hills and is a traditional parkland course with views to the city of Glasgow.
Having been promoted into the top role in October, he was aware all his cutting machinery had reached end of life and was no longer tenable.
“It was a struggle; some surface disease set us back, then damage from storm Eowyn in January tested our resolve. I knew we’d bounce back but I didn’t expect the turnaround to be as quick,” said Ryan.
Ryan credits the arrival of three nearly-new Jacobsen mowers as being transformative. After demos from several manufacturers, Ryan decided the legendary signature Jake cut delivered the precision he needed.
Stuart Cameron, Area Sales Manager at Fairways GM at Inchinnan, Jacobsen’s exclusive Scottish dealer put the package together.
First to arrive early March was a Jacobsen GP400, greens mower followed by a Jacobsen LF570 fairways mower and then, finally, in April, a Jacobsen AR522 rough mower.
“A few minutes into the first cut of the GP on our greens, I knew all would be well. The quality of cut was like nothing they’d had before. Literally within days you could see they were benefiting. Within a month the greens had never bee as quick for the start of the season. They were a lovely green colour, even before we fed them a cold start fertiliser. The sharp blades made all the difference.
“The LF is so reliable. Our previous mower had an issue on the third fairway which is particularly steep. Despite our best efforts it would always leave a tyre rip when you were doing your finishing line. The LF is so clean you’d never know it had been there. The traction on it is unmatched.”
“The third machine to arrive – the AR522 – arrived late April and went straight out the same day it was delivered. It is for our ‘first cut’ and already is adding quality to the presentation of our bankings, the job we needed it to do.
“When I took over late Autumn, I had a vision in my head of what I wanted to achieve. To come out the other side of a difficult winter, together with a disease spike, and be this far along is a huge boost.
“Members are focussing on the quality of the cut, the smoothness and the ball roll. Literally dozens have commented how these are the best greens they have had at the start of any season for as long as they can recall. Their expectations for the season ahead have been surpassed and for me and my team, Tony Sheridan and Scott Lyon, that’s been really satisfying. We’re a relatively young unit but hugely appreciate the members giving us their support.”
