For this reason, productivity and efficiency is everything when it comes to equipment and for mowing, an LM331 from Baroness is ticking all of the boxes.

Joining the club in August 2025, Adam quickly found himself in charge of a busy stadium pitch, used for women’s fixtures and academy training alongside matches and training for the men’s first team – currently playing in the Scottish Championship. Together with a packed usage programme, he was also faced with managing the demands of a natural soil-based surface through one of the toughest Scottish winters in recent memory.

“When I started, we quickly had conversations about what was needed to help and, while I love hand cutting, when you’re one person trying to mow, line, water and keep on top of everything else I knew I needed something that would ease the workload” Adam explains.

“I looked at a few options and was really impressed with the cut quality on the Baroness and the fact that it was well built but not heavy, meaning we’d be able to get it onto the pitch without leaving tyre marks or mess.”

The club took delivery of their Baroness LM331 from local dealers Hamilton Ross Group in October 2025. The LM331 is equipped with precision engineered cutting reels and unique mower arms which maintain down pressure for a consistently beautiful finish, delivered in double quick time. “I can cut the pitch in around an hour which then gives me the opportunity to get feeds down or other tasks done before a game or in limited weather windows.”

As Adam explains, the productivity boost proved especially valuable towards the end of the season. “When the hot weather came, the grass just took off and having the Baroness meant I could stay on top of cutting without everything else falling behind.”

“The beauty is I get speed and efficiency without a compromise on presentation, with the LM311 providing a finish that’s very close to what we see from a hand mower.”

He continues, “Another big thing is that the units stay on cut for longer. A quick check is all it needs, saving time on set-up and enabling me to just get on with the job.”

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The East Lothian links venue has moved to an exclusively Toro fleet following a detailed 16-month review process, with course quality, reliability and long-term support being the focus of the process.

For Course Manager Paul Hay, the move reflects the club’s ambition to continually raise standards as demands on the course increase through growing visitor play and a busy tournament calendar.

“After extensive demonstrations and discussions with suppliers, Toro and Reesink emerged as the standout choice,” Paul says. “This investment shows the club’s commitment to improving course standards and our confidence in adopting a new supplier.”

Craigielaw is hosting a number of high-profile events in 2026, including Open Regional Qualifying and the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship, placing pressure on the team to maintain consistent presentation and performance throughout the season.

“As the demands on the course increase and the number of rounds grows each year, we need machinery we can trust to deliver,” he continued. “I’ve used Toro over my 31-year career and I always found the machines to be exceptionally well made.

“In the demonstrations that formed part of the process I was reminded of the benefits of the clever design and technology the brand offers. Things like the manoeuvrability provided by the three-wheel design of the Reelmaster 3575-D and the flexible cutting units of the Reelmaster 3100-D with Sidewinder really impressed us.”

The introduction of the SideWinder is one that delivers a significantly improved course aesthetic, says Paul: “The biggest difference is on the bunker cutting – now we can get in even closer to the bunkers and keep the tops tighter, which significantly enhances the course’s overall presentation.”

The new fleet also includes a selection of mid and heavy duty utility vehicles as well as the Greensmaster 3420 for the greens.

Alongside the machinery itself, Paul highlighted the role Reesink Turfcare played throughout the process and the reasons why he opted for the brand’s most comprehensive maintenance and servicing package.

“Reesink has provided first-class service from the outset, with excellent communication throughout,” he said. “The Gold service package we chose gives me peace of mind during one of the busiest periods in the club’s history. With fixed-cost servicing, proactive maintenance and rapid support built into the agreement, the uncertainty of unexpected repair bills and downtime during key tournament windows is removed – that reassurance is invaluable.”

Paul and the greenkeeping team also received on-site training covering both machine operation and day-to-day maintenance from Reesink’s specialists in order to maximise machine performance.

“The staff have responded very positively to the new equipment,” says Paul. “Everyone was pleased to see the fleet arrive and the benefits are already visible on the course.”

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Managing and maintaining around 10,000 hectares, the company undertakes everything from tree planting and woodland creation through to ongoing forestry maintenance, ensuring young trees have the best possible start.

With such demanding work, having the right equipment is essential. That was exactly why owner Dave Telford began searching for a brushcutter capable of working efficiently between rows of newly planted trees while tackling the challenging terrain and vegetation found on forestry sites.

His search led him to the Etesia Attila 95, a machine that has already proved its worth just weeks after joining the fleet.

“I needed something that would fit between the tree rows,” explained Dave. “The machine had to be around 39 inches wide, but it also needed plenty of power. You’re dealing with steep ground, all kinds of vegetation and rough conditions, so I wanted something with a bit of grunt that could really get through it and keep the job productive.”

Rather than arranging multiple demonstrations, Dave carried out extensive research and sought advice from trusted contacts within the industry.

“I spoke to a lot of people and Etesia kept coming up. Then you watch videos online and see the reputation the machines have. I bought it based on that reputation and it’s definitely paid off.”

The Attila 95 has been put straight to work mowing between rows of young trees, where its combination of power, manoeuvrability and productivity has impressed from day one.

“It covers the ground really quickly,” said Dave. “It’s a good piece of kit and it leaves an excellent finish. Once the job’s done, it just looks tidy. The clients love it because the finished result is spot on.”

Designed specifically for demanding vegetation management, the Attila 95 combines a 95 cm cutting width with powerful brushcutting performance, making it capable of tackling dense growth while maintaining productivity of up to 12,000m² per hour. Its hydrostatic drive, low centre of gravity and excellent traction also allow operators to work confidently on slopes of up to 30 degrees.

One feature that has particularly stood out for Dave is the quality of cut, even when working in long vegetation.

“What I’ve noticed is that even if you have the cutting deck set at its highest position, around 120 millimetres, the finish is still excellent. You’d think it was cutting much lower because it leaves it looking so tidy.

“With a lot of machines I’ve hired in the past, when the grass is long, you’re driving over it and it just gets flattened rather than cut, so it looks like you’ve simply driven through it. The Etesia doesn’t do that. It cuts properly as you go. It’s just a really good design.”

Like any contractor, reliability and ease of maintenance were also high on Dave’s priority list. Downtime on remote forestry sites can be costly, making straightforward servicing a major advantage.

“I wanted something that was easy to fix if anything happened. The blades are really simple to change, so if you damage one onsite it’s literally a couple of minutes and you’re back working. You don’t have to lose half a day taking it back to the workshop. That’s a massive benefit for us.”

Dave purchased the machine through Lothian Turf Tech, where he received first-class support from Richard Fairnie and the team.

“I’d never dealt with them before, but they were recommended to me and they were absolutely brilliant.

“Richard brought the machine to me at a time that suited me, gave me a full demonstration and showed me everything I needed to know. I’d never even seen the machine before, but by the time he’d finished I was completely confident using it.

“The after-sales support has been excellent and the whole experience has been fantastic.”

Although it’s still early days, Dave has no doubts that investing in the Attila 95 was the right decision.

“It’s 100% been worthwhile,” he said. “Like any piece of equipment, it takes time to pay for itself, but this machine will pay for itself very quickly. There’s no doubt about that.”

The post Contractor finds the perfect partner in the Etesia Attila 95 appeared first on Professional Groundscare.

Engineered for football pitches, cricket squares, golf facilities, bowls greens and sports academies, the new model marks a major step forward for Cobra as it fully enters the professional sports turf category.

The Fortis Stadium 34 represents a significant evolution for Cobra, bringing together modern turfcare technology with the experience and heritage of Henton & Chattell’s 95 years in the garden machinery industry.

Designed to deliver precision cutting, versatility and long-term reliability, the machine is aimed squarely at grounds teams seeking professional performance with practical affordability.

To meet the evolving needs of modern grounds teams, Cobra is launching the Fortis Stadium 34 in two configurations; a Honda-powered petrol model for proven performance, and an EGO battery-powered model offering the same 34” cut with reduced noise, zero emissions at the point of use and lower running costs – ideal for stadiums where sustainability and noise control are priorities. Offering both power options provides facilities with the flexibility to adopt battery technology at their own pace while maintaining operational reliability. For large pitches and extended mowing sessions, the Fortis Stadium 34 can be fitted with an optional premium trailer seat, helping to reduce operator fatigue while maintaining precise control.

At the heart of the Fortis Stadium 34 is a precision-engineered cylinder cutting system, designed to deliver the immaculate striped finish and consistent cutting performance required on sports surfaces. Whether maintaining football pitches, cricket outfields, golf approaches or bowls greens, the Fortis Stadium 34 provides the control and accuracy grounds professionals demand.

The mower is fully compatible with the Fortis Turf Management Cartridge System, enabling operators to quickly switch between interchangeable lawncare cartridges. This allows grounds teams to carry out a wide range of essential turf maintenance tasks with one machine, including aeration, scarification, verticutting and brushing — keeping playing surfaces in peak condition throughout the season.

The launch of the Fortis Stadium 34 signals Cobra’s strategic move into a key segment of the professional turf market: the mid-tier professional user. This includes organisations such as grassroots and championship football clubs, universities, sports academies and professional grounds maintenance contractors. These facilities often require professional-grade turf equipment but seek a more accessible alternative to elite stadium machinery.

Peter Chaloner, managing director of Cobra, discusses how by combining professional capability with competitive pricing, Cobra is positioning the Fortis Stadium range as a new challenger within the sports turf sector: “Our new Fortis Stadium mower bridges the gap between traditional professional turf capability and practical operational flexibility — ideal for grounds teams transitioning from petrol to battery or needing both. We have designed them with the operator in mind, giving ultimate control and comfort during long mowing sessions with precision cutting and all while keeping budgets in mind”.

The move into professional sports turf reinforces Cobra’s commitment to developing equipment that meets the needs of modern grounds teams, while maintaining the brand’s reputation for delivering performance, reliability and value.

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The investment forms part of a comprehensive renewal of the Trust’s ageing machinery fleet, helping to improve reliability, reduce downtime and support long-term sustainability objectives.

Toro was awarded approximately 25 percent of the overall machinery contract following a competitive public tender process. David Gray, Golf Courses Manager of Fife Golf Trust, says: “This was a robust procurement process. The decision was made through public tender and competitive evaluation, with contracts awarded on merit.

“The procurement process was designed to ensure transparency, compliance and value for money, with detailed specifications developed for each individual machine.”

Involved in the order are five Toro Reelmaster 5010-H hybrid fairway mowers, six Toro GreensPro 1260 greens rollers and a Toro Workman HDX-D utility vehicle with ProPass spreader.

David continues: “A key part of the strategy was to invest in the cleanest and most efficient equipment available, which aligns closely with our sustainability objectives. We are committed to managing our courses sensitively and finding the right balance so that both golf and nature can thrive together.”

About the specific machinery, David says: “The hybrid Reelmaster mower was the best option on the market to ensure we continued to reduce our emissions. We’ve run Toro fairway mowers for over 10 years so this approach tied in well.

Similarly with the Workman and ProPass, this was a direct replacement for one that we are familiar with.

While the greens rollers are new to us, the affordability, reliability and performance of the machines will ensure this is a good investment.”

Fife Golf Trust’s operating model is unique within Scottish golf. While partner clubs remain separate entities, the Trust focuses solely on course maintenance and management, overseeing seven venues with a team of 23 greenkeepers across approximately 550 hectares of land.

“Our teams consistently produce fantastic course conditions that we are proud of,” confirms David. “This investment will help ensure we can continue delivering high standards while keeping golf affordable and accessible for local communities.”

For Reesink Turfcare, the project demonstrates the value of matching the right equipment to the needs of large-scale golf operations says John Rankin, Area Sales Manager for Reesink Scotland.

“We are delighted that Toro equipment was selected as part of this significant investment programme,” says John. “The competitive tender process made the outcome a strong endorsement of Toro’s ability to meet the performance, value and sustainability criteria required by a modern golf operation.

We look forward to supporting Fife Golf Trust and its teams as they continue to deliver high-quality playing conditions across their portfolio of courses.”

The post Significant share of Fife Golf Trust’s £2.4 million machinery tender goes to Toro and Reesink Turfcare appeared first on Professional Groundscare.

After evaluating the options, he found that nothing matched the cut quality of a Baroness LM66 hand mower.

Six years on, and with two further bowls clubs on his books, the decision was made to invest in two more LM66’s – the trio now delivering precise, consistent and efficient mowing on all three sites. 

With the assistance of a team of five, Harry looks after a vast and varied portfolio of amateur and professional sports clubs across north-west London, encompassing rugby and cricket alongside lawn bowls.

To get the finesse demanded for a first-class bowling green, Harry consulted with Jon Ryan of dealers George Browns to explore the options. “It quite quickly became clear that the Baroness machine not only gave the best quality of cut and finish, but also the weight and width of the machine was ideal for cutting the green in less time than other hand mowers available” he says. 

He specified the LM66 with an 11-blade cutting cylinder, additionally equipped with a front-mounted 94-blade groomer. “This combination is a gamechanger. In one pass I can groom and cut, all-but-eliminating the need to do additional verti-cutting.” Harry continues, “We’ve reduced the poa content on the green by grooming this out, and the amount of weed control we need to do has also reduced as nothing has an opportunity to grow and take hold.” 

“We’ve taken this set-up that works so well and now have two further LM66’s, delivered in February 2026, all equipped with groomers at each of our bowling greens. This reduces the need to transport machines around, thereby lowering our chances of transferring weed seeds or diseases from green to green, as well as reducing our risk of knocking machines off cut or damaging them in transit. Each machine can then be fully configured to the needs of that specific site and green, maintaining that all-important consistency and quality with every cut.” 

The LM66 from the Baroness pedestrian range is designed to provide the highest quality finish, with a solid build but a light footprint for its class. By utilising nickel-chrome-molybdenum alloy steel cutting cylinders and specially hardened, tipped bedknives, operators are ensured of samurai sword sharpness that keeps its cutting edge longer than any other mower in the market. 

He adds, “In terms of maintenance, there isn’t much to say as I’ve not had a single breakdown in the six years I’ve had the mower! We just keep on top of the regular upkeep and in return, get a mower that performs perfectly every time.”

The post Wilcox Groundcare perfects bowling green preparations with Baroness appeared first on Professional Groundscare.

The CS Pro is a multipurpose mower for compact tractors. The 3.0m model delivers wide area mowing with just 35HP.

The machine has 4 rotors – two in the middle deck and one on each wing – fitted with 16 blades capable of processing dense vegetation yet clean enough for fine turf applications.

Front and rear rollers on each deck eliminate scalping and produce a striped finish. Wings can be folded up to 2.0m transport width.

“With the 3.0m CS Pro we can cut this site in 4 to 5 hours. It used to take a whole day! Now we can go to a second site on the same day which saves a massive mount of time and effort for us,” enthused Will.

“We recommend the CS Pro to any sports club with wide areas to cut. From 20mm to 80mm it will do a great job. We couldn’t ask for anything more from this mower.”

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Built for power, precision, and reliability, the AR530 is driven by a robust Kubota 37.4 kW (50.2 hp) diesel engine that delivers consistent performance in demanding conditions.

Designed specifically for rough mowing, this mower combines advanced cutting technology, operator comfort, and maintenance-friendly engineering into one exceptional machine.

At the heart of the AR530’s performance are Jacobsen’s 23” TrueDeck rotary cutting units. Engineered for strength and durability, these decks provide best-in-class after-cut quality and vibrant striping for a visually impressive finish.

With a choice of three blade options, the AR530 can be tailored to meet the unique needs of any golf course. Features like improved grass dispersal, a deck nose, and heavy-duty rear rollers ensure a championship-level appearance year-round without scalping or uncut grass. The integrated SureTrac traction system further protects turf health by minimizing tire slippage and reducing scuff marks, even on slopes or challenging terrain.

Operator comfort is engineered into every detail of the AR530. The thoughtfully laid-out, ergonomic operator platform allows operators to stay comfortable and productive throughout long mowing sessions. A premium air-ride seat, adjustable steering wheel, and intuitive fingertip controls mounted on a moving armrest, allow the machine to conform to each operator—not the other way around. The result is a smooth, confident ride that enhances safety and reduces fatigue for operators on any course.

The AR530 also earns high marks from maintenance teams. Routine service is quick and straightforward thanks to tool-free access to engine hood side panels and strategically placed maintenance points around the machine. Changing the height of cut requires no tools, saving valuable time during setup. Built into the armrest, a full-color LCD screen displays critical machine information and built-in diagnostics, helping technicians perform routine maintenance to keep the mower out on the course.

With power, precision, and smart engineering, the Jacobsen AR530 is built to revolutionize your rough.

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Its permanent 4WD system with automatic diff-lock, 155cm cutter deck, 1,400-litre high-tip grass box and powerful 47hp Yanmar engine make it incredibly capable in all conditions, particularly when cutting and collecting in wet weather.

Using the rotary deck attachment makes it possible to collect all of the leaves during autumn with just one operator, saving significant man hours elsewhere on the course.

This adaptability is one of the machine’s greatest strengths – it is never left sitting unused in the shed.

Kevin O’Neill, from Howley Hall Golf Club, said: “When purchasing machinery for the golf course, it is essential that the equipment can perform the task efficiently while remaining simple for the greenkeeping team to operate.

“Our Grillo FD 2200TS has certainly delivered on both fronts.

“Originally purchased as a scarify collector to help manage rough areas and encourage finer grasses, the machine has become an invaluable part of our maintenance programme.

“Alongside other management techniques, it has enabled us to carry out turf management to a very high standard.”

The post The versatility of the Grillo FD2200TS proves a winner appeared first on Professional Groundscare.

This development represents a key step for the brand, taking the expertise gained over decades in the garden machinery industry and applying it to a new customer base maintaining larger lawns, estates, and commercial grounds.

This launch marks Cobra’s first foray into zero-turn and stand-on mowing technology, offering contractor-grade performance, durability, and manoeuvrability to professional landscapers and estate owners. Building on 95 years of Henton & Chattell expertise, Cobra combines its deep knowledge of lawncare with innovative design to meet the needs of operators managing large areas efficiently and professionally.

“The Cobra range is continually expanding with new products launching year round but it’s particularly exciting to be expanding with new zero-turn and stand-on mowers for the first time. We are excited to be bringing the same precision, reliability, and innovation that has made Cobra a trusted brand for homeowners and semi-professional users to commercial and estate customers,” said Peter Chaloner, Managing Director of Cobra.

Cobra’s new zero-turn and stand-on mowers are built to maximise productivity while delivering a superior lawn finish. Key features include:

• Zero-turn agility and speed – Cover large areas quickly while maintaining control and precision
• Stand-on versatility – Ideal for complex landscapes requiring frequent stops, tight manoeuvring, and operator visibility
• Durable construction – Heavy-duty decks and premium engines built for commercial use

The range is perfectly suited for contractors, large private estates, parks, and other professional landscaping operations, providing machines that combine speed, reliability, and superior cutting performance.

The ZTR and ZTS models not only enhance Cobra’s product offering but also strengthen its position in the professional dealer network, supporting contractors with reliable equipment, parts availability, and expert service. This expansion ensures Cobra continues to provide dealer-backed confidence for commercial customers, reinforcing the brand as a credible, professional lawncare solution.

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