At Farm & Plant Ireland we list a comprehensive range of golf and turfcare machinery at very affordable prices.
Read More (Golf & Turfcare)Whether you are looking for a new mower, spiker or top dresser, we are sure to have the perfect piece of kit for your needs. Top dressers are used to apply compost, or more often a blend of sand, soil and compost, on to your existing turf. They are essential for maintaining large areas of turf, such as those found on golf courses or public parks. Dressers are usually towed rather than combination machines, for example the Dakota 412 is a towed dresser with a capacity of 1.85m3 that applies the dressing via a central spinning disc. Spikers are used to aerate the turf which is another essential part of successful lawn maintenance. Spikers are relatively inexpensive and come in a range of sizes and designs. A typical example is the Sisis, a 1.2m wide spiker with solid tines and safety guard.
The choice of mowers on the market is huge, but for the kind of precision work needed on golf courses you are probably going to want a ride on mower rather than a towed one. It's also best not to ride a heavy tractor over greens. The John Deere Z Trak for example is a sit on mower with a zero degree turning circle that is ideal for efficiently maintaining golf course and other turfed areas.
The John Deere 8000 E-Cut is a dedicated fairway and surrounds mower specifically designed with the golf course in mind. As well as offering an adjustable cutting height, it also features grooming rollers and power brushes.
Depending on the size of the turf you need to maintain, you may well need a small tractor. You can then use a large towed mower (on areas where it is suitable for a tractor to drive) and larger spikers and dressers. Because the operations that most golf course managers carry out are relatively straightforward, most courses opt for an older tractor rather than an all singing all dancing new model. The Massey Ferguson MF135 is a great example, with its easy to use standard gearbox and power steering.