Barnham Broom Golf Club Brings Back Toro

Barnham Broom Golf Club in Norfolk recently purchased a Toro Groundsmaster® 4000-D, its first Toro machine in 20 years, to cut the roughs on its two 18- hole golf courses.

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Head greenkeeper Brian Lemmon, who has been at the club for 38 years, says when the need arose for a rough cutter he originally considered a tractor and trail gangs for the Frank Pennink-designed Valley Course and Donald Steele-designed Hill Course, 10 miles west of Norwich.

“While the tractor and trail gangs would have done the job, it would have been more time consuming than using a rough cutting machine, so we decided to investigate suitable grounds care machines for the job. Along with others, Toro was invited and despite having a shed full of other machinery brands, we decided to go with the Groundsmaster® 4000-D,” he says.

And he’s glad he did. “The quality build of the machine was instantly clear and it was soon obvious what a good bit of kit it was, more than able to do the job. I’m really pleased with it so far.”

Toro designed the Groundsmaster 4000-D to handle the most challenging cutting conditions. Its unmatched engine torque, and patented hydraulic motors that directly drive spindles on each deck, make the mower one of the strongest and most productive on the market. It tackles tough, dense grass with ease, and the shallow deck design forces quicker clipping dispersal, allowing the decks to accept more grass on a faster basis. Plus, according to Lemmon, it’s “easy to use turning tight around the trees for a close, smart cut.”

Maintaining a quality finish across both courses is a priority for Lemmon and his greens team of seven, and they believe that will only get easier with the addition of the new Toro.

It’s a belief echoed by Barnham Broom’s head professional Alan Hemsley, who says the courses are very well looked after and, with the addition of the new Toro, can only get better. Hemsley is involved in getting new golfers to the Club by offering “Get Into Golf” courses throughout the year. He also runs Girls Golf Rocks sessions, which is a successful junior academy.

With the combination of his efforts, and the highly-maintained courses produced by Lemmon and the greenkeeping team, the club is attracting more new golfers every year.