There is no more valuable resource to golf course managers than time, which is why efficiency ranks highly when it comes to sourcing new maintenance solutions.
Looking specifically at turf rollers, the HP11-III from Salsco with three driven rollers is the widest and quickest on the market – delivering proven productivity and performance at courses across the UK.
One club reporting a 40% reduction in the time taken to roll all 18 greens is Cowdray Golf Club in West Sussex, who purchased their Salsco HP11-III from Lister Wilder in May.
“Greens ironing plays such an important part in ensuring that people’s experience of their visit is as good as it can be,” explains Course Manager Jonathan Smith. “Previously, we had a much smaller greens iron, and while it did a fair job, it used to take us about four hours to get round where the Salsco can do it to a high standard in under two and a half.”
Smith also notes the rollers flexibility to cope with climatic challenges. “If the weather is particularly hot, for example, we tend to prefer to roll rather than cut because we believe it gives the greens the best chance and gives our players the best performance.”
“The other beauty of it is that if I am doing any type of renovation work, I will utilise the roller for effective consolidation. If the need arises, we can add water to the individual rolls to increase the psi from 7.0 to 9.2, which has been particularly useful when we are Verti-Draining and Pro-Coring during our maintenance week” he adds. “Within a few days you would never know the work had taken place.”
The three independent rolls that oscillate and articulate on the HP11-III not only allow for complete control over weight distribution, they ensure 100% ground contact. It’s ability to maintain traction without slipping was a key consideration for Graeme Roberts, Course Manager at Hayling Golf Club, and their decision to invest in Salsco.
“Depending upon events, we try to roll between one and three times a week in the main season and then, in the autumn and spring when the growth rate is down, maybe up the rolling in exchange for cutting” says Graeme. “We have a lot of slopes on the edges of our greens and it’s very important that it can roll without losing traction and creating stress, especially when changing direction. Having every roller driven on this model means that you get the best traction possible.”
“I also like the fact that it has wider self-cleaning rollers so is a lot more efficient and effective in the finish that it achieves.” He concludes, “The ball roll definitely improves with it, and it’s proven invaluable in getting sand into the soil profile when you have top dressed, while also helping to reduce the mess that is often left by other rollers.”
For more information on the HP11-III or the other rollers in the Salsco range, visit salscorollers.co.uk or get in touch with the team at Lister Wilder.