The Cambridgeshire Golf Club in Bar Hill raises standards with support from George Browns

When Steve Pateman joined The Cambridgeshire Golf Club in 2023, he inherited a course with huge potential, but a machinery fleet which was holding the club back.

Together with support and a major equipment upgrade from George Browns, Course Manager Steve and his team now have the reliability, confidence and foundations to elevate course standards to new heights. 

Set among 160 acres of Cambridgeshire parkland, The Cambridgeshire combines a busy members’ club with a thriving hospitality business. With all eyes firmly set on growth and expansion, for Steve, the problem was clear from the outset. “The club hadn’t had any machinery upgrades for 20 years, so an audit of the equipment showed that much of it was no longer fit for purpose. With outstanding support from my Golf Director, we knew that investment was long-overdue and well-needed.” 

“I immediately got in contact with George Browns as, in my opinion, they stock the best range of franchises and machines in the country and from the off, the support we’ve received from the team has been amazing.” Within a matter of months, Steve and the team of five had taken delivery of a suite of equipment including a Kubota L2622 compact tractor and RTV, and AgriMetal roller from Baroness. 

“I’d used Kubota in my previous role and knew without doubt, it’s what we needed here.” He explains, “The reliability you get from Kubota is incredible. They are machines that are built to work and will tackle every task and all terrain without hesitation. The AgriMetal roller, again, is the best roller in the market by a country mile. The comfort, the ease of hitching and unhitching and the quality of the roller itself leaves a finish that no other roller comes close to.” 

Another standout addition to Steve’s armoury has been the Trimax Snake Rotary mower. “It’s another unbelievable machine which has made a huge difference to our productivity. Where we would previously lose a member of staff for the entire week to cut fairways twice over, we can now do the same task in under two days.” He adds, “This machine alone has effectively gained us an extra member of staff.” 

The theme of durability extends to the final piece of the puzzle, The Cambridgeshire’s new Redexim Verti-Drain 7416. “This will make a huge difference to course condition, handling our tree-lined layout well, particularly during wet periods and intensive seasonal work.” He jokes, “You could use this thing on a motorway and it’d still poke holes in the ground!”

It’s not just been the equipment that has impressed, the support from Luke Farrow and the team at George Browns has provided the team with a complete, ‘turn-key’ solution. “Whether it’s health and safety training, parts or just general advice, nothing is too much trouble.” 

Steve concludes, “The impact this equipment has had has been immediate. Players are noticing the improvements in condition to the point where, at a recent golf day, we signed up six new members in a day! The return on our investment is evident and everyone involved with the club couldn’t be happier. We’re not standing still either – with the Lithium Sand Pro and Baroness greens mower now firmly on our radar, we’re excited about continuing to build on the progress we’ve made with the support of George Browns.”