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Appleby Golf Club’s long-serving course manager Steve Campbell and his assistant Grant Dougherty do all the mowing on this 18-hole Cumbrian moorland course. Time is therefore at a premium, and anything that saves this precious commodity without compromising course quality is a real bonus.

So when Nigel Hurst of John Deere dealer Henry Armer & Son gave a demonstration of the company’s new Quick Adjust (QA) cylinder mower cutting units to course managers in the area, Steve saw them as a highly practical addition to his armoury, and genuine time savers.

He already owned a John Deere 2500E hybrid electric greens mower, so he bought a second machine equipped with QA units from Armers. Impressed with their performance benefits, he also decided to upgrade the cutting of tees and surrounds by buying a new 8000 E-Cut hybrid mower.

“We usually do the adjustments in the shed, but the job can be done just as easily out on the course now,” says Steve, who has been in charge of course maintenance at Appleby for 27 years. “All you need is a gauge and a drill. It’s been easy from day one – anyone can do it.

“I reckon we save about an hour each time we make an adjustment, so over the year that’s a lot of time saved, which we can spend doing other vital jobs around the course. Obviously the biggest time saving is at the beginning and end of the main cutting season when height changes are more frequent, but spring and autumn are when there’s most of the other work to do anyway.

“Quick adjustment of the cylinders is a real benefit to us, especially because you don’t even have to take the units off the machine, which used to be pretty tough sometimes.”

Steve Campbell cuts the tees and surrounds twice a week during the summer and used to use a 72in triplex mower, but says his new 8000E is already giving better results. “I now get a wider 80in cut, and the five floating units tackle undulations so much better than the old machine,” he says.

“Before, I had to lower the cut just to reach some parts. Now, I can keep the cut up and get a really good, consistent finish. Turning on the tees without marking makes the job so much quicker too – I love the 8000E’s three-wheel manoeuvrability.”

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John Deere Financial has announced two new interest-free finance programmes for UK customers.

The first is available for golf and bowls clubs, who may order any new golf & turf machine from John Deere dealers at any time from now until 31st May 2012. The offer is for 1+1 annual payments at zero per cent interest, with the amount financed limited to 60 per cent of the retail value.

Under the second scheme, all UK business customers may buy any new John Deere compact utility tractor with 1 + 2 annual payments at zero per cent interest, until further notice. In this programme, the amount financed is limited to 50 per cent of the retail value.

As usual, other credit profiles are available on request, and the availability of finance is subject to status and to terms and conditions – further details are available in the Special Offers area at www.deere.co.uk or from John Deere dealers nationwide.

The Richmond Golf Club in Surrey is in the third year of a seven-year equipment replacement plan and its latest acquisition, through a preferred supplier deal with Wokingham based dealer Godfrey’s Golf & Turf, is the John Deere 8000 E-Cut fairway mower.

Course manager Les Howkins had been impressed by the 37hp mower, which features five 18in Quick Adjust (QA) cutting units, following a demonstration, and also reports favourable comments from club members. “They really like the appearance of the narrower cut lines on the fairways,” he says. “The set-up of the machine also means I can use it for cutting the surrounds and approaches and around bunkers, if required.”

The 8000E’s hybrid diesel/electric design produces less engine noise and fewer emissions, and needs less fuel. Les Howkins was convinced to add one to his fleet by the potential fuel cost savings and what the machine could do to enhance the look of the fairways on the 18-hole, 6000-yard course, next to Richmond Park.

“The three-wheel set-up, smooth tyres and the lower risk of hydraulic oil leaks from the hybrid design all added up to a dream machine for the fairways, and so it has proved,” he says. “I favour the diamond pattern of cutting the fairways here – turns with this mower are a lot less harsh, and with the reduced impact their appearance is noticeably crisper. The 8000E does the job just as quickly as a wider machine, because we’ve found the turning plus the lifting and dropping of the reels much more efficient.”

Les Howkins manages a team of 10 fully qualified greenkeepers, and says they have also found the new mower a pleasure to use. All give the thumbs up to John Deere’s uniform mower controls, which makes switching from one cutting job to another much easier.

This is one reason why the club’s equipment replacement plan is “going down the John Deere route”, as Les puts it, and a second 8000E mower was ordered from Godfreys Golf & Turf due to the success of the first machine. “This latest purchase will complete my fairway mowing fleet and ensure consistency of appearance, quality of finish and maintenance in the workshop,” he adds.

Cutting height, ball speed and a light touch from the greens mowers are all critical factors for Mike Mercer, course manager at Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, which hosts the final qualifying round for the 2012 Open Championship being held at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

“Players of all abilities have become far more discerning about playing standards, and they’ll soon tell you if they are not up to scratch,” says Mike, who has clocked up 27 years at this heathland links course, 16 of these as course manager.

Always keen to keep abreast of new technology, Mike was an early adopter of John Deere’s 2500 E-Cut hybrid electric greens mower. The operational issues that were experienced with some of the original machines, now fully rectified, could have led him to change his preferences.

However, area salesman Ian Roberts of John Deere dealer Turner Groundscare at Tarvin, Chester, persuaded him to keep the faith when Mike was looking to replace the mower. It’s a decision that Mike and his five-strong greenkeeping team have not regretted.

“We run several other John Deere machines here, including a 4320 compact tractor, a 3235A fairways mower, a 500 triple mower and a 2500B greens mower,” he says. “So I decided to replace our first 2500E, which was five years old, with the new version. This has proved to be very reliable, and performs almost like a utility machine, so we can also use it for verticutting.”

As a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the course is run under strict environmental conditions, and the 2500E plays its part in helping meet the maintenance requirements that this status demands. Mike and his team have an extensive programme in place to ensure first class playing quality and turf conditions.

“In spring we increase greens cutting from three times a week to daily, and for competitions we double cut then iron the greens,” says Mike.

Such regular mowing naturally raises the chance of accidental oil leaks, so Mike chose the 2500E because, as he puts it, “It is kinder to the turf and drastically reduces the chances of a potentially devastating leak.”

Sound levels are also reduced – another important environmental factor – while cut quality and productivity are maintained, and fuel savings can be as great as 20 per cent. “Typically the mower consumes 3.5 to 4 litres of diesel for every cut of the greens, a task that can take up to three hours,” says Mike.

The new 2500E model also features John Deere's QA5 (Quick Adjust 5in diameter) cutting units. This system makes light work of adjusting each cylinder’s cutting height, turning what was a 15-minute job into a 30-second one.

“In winter, cutting height is 4.5 to 5mm, coming down to between 3.5 and 4mm in spring and summer. Time is always an important factor, so using the quick adjust feature to change the cutting height is really useful,” Mike adds.

John Deere’s PowerGard Maintenance and PowerGard Protection programmes are now available for the company’s full range of professional turf equipment, including golf and commercial mowers, as well as compact tractors (but not Gator utility vehicles). Combining both plans allows customers to budget for all their equipment servicing and repair costs.

“All our professional turf equipment customers in the UK and Ireland can now benefit from a PowerGard plan to help fix costs, budget more accurately and avoid unexpected outlays,” says John Deere Limited’s aftermarket sales manager James Morley.

“These new PowerGard programmes are specially designed to control operating costs, remove the worry and allow users to choose the best plan to suit their individual needs. Not only can the operator save on maintenance costs by locking into current parts and labour prices, he can also save on his own time and labour.”

One of the first golf courses in the country to adopt PowerGard is Allerthorpe Park Golf Club, near York. The club agreed a new package deal with local dealer F G Adamson & Son of Swanland in East Yorkshire, and took out a John Deere Financial lease with PowerGard maintenance and protection cover from day one, giving them a total fixed cost of ownership over five years.

“I was looking for something to cover all our machines all the time, so that we could concentrate on our greenkeeping duties and on improving the quality of the course and its presentation, without having to worry about servicing or parts as the machines get older,” says head greenkeeper Rob Bradley. “What we liked about PowerGard is that you have one set amount to pay every month with no unexpected costs, which makes budget planning that much easier.”

PowerGard is much more than a simple extended warranty programme; it is a complete maintenance and protection plan that allows the user to budget for the full operating costs of the equipment, while ensuring that it is properly maintained throughout its working life to provide years of reliable service.

PowerGard Maintenance is an agreement between the dealership and the customer to do all the maintenance work on the machine, new or used, according to the service schedule in the operator’s manual. Customers can pay at each service, in regular instalments or for the entire contract in advance, with the cost of the plan including all parts, maintenance fluids and routine labour.

In addition, there are two levels of PowerGard Protection plan that cover the cost of machinery repairs for up to five years, and must be bought with a PowerGard Maintenance plan. The basic PowerGard Protection is for limited coverage of the powertrain and engine, while PowerGard Protection Plus provides more comprehensive coverage of all key machine components.

Full details of covered items are available from John Deere dealers. Subject to acceptance by John Deere Financial, it is possible to fund the PowerGard Protection programmes within a finance package; payments will vary depending on the machine, length of the plan and payment option chosen.

“PowerGard customers can also be secure in the knowledge that their machines are being well cared for by a skilled, fully trained John Deere technician using state of the art tools, who is certified by the industry standard LTA programme,” says James Morley. “This in turn provides reliability and performance advantages, and they will have a complete service record book, fully stamped by the dealer, which will add value to the machine when it is traded in.”

In recognition of the company’s 175th anniversary in 2012, John Deere is offering an extra set of either Quick Adjust QA5 cutting units or standard verticut units for just £175 (or 175 euros) with every new 2500B or 2500E hybrid greens mower bought from a John Deere turf dealer. The offer runs until the end of June 2012.

 Back in 1837 John Deere produced his famous plough, designed to cut through the sticky prairie soil of the midwestern United States. That spirit of innovation continues today with the 2500 greens mower, whose offset cutting units, low pressure footprint and hybrid E-Cut technology help greenkeepers and groundsmen to create first class playing surfaces worldwide.

 The extra cutting units are compatible with 2500 greens mower models dating back to 2006 and have no shelf life, so they could either be used to upgrade an existing mower or kept for future seasons.

 First launched at BTME in 2005, the John Deere 2500E was the golf and turf industry’s first hybrid greens mower, combining conventional diesel power with electric motors to produce a quieter, more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly machine. Its advanced technology eliminates more than 100 potential hydraulic leak points, without sacrificing overall reliability, power or cut quality.

 Both the 2500B PrecisionCut and 2500 E-Cut hybrid greens mowers are equipped with three 56cm (22in) cylinder cutting units, available with either seven- or 11-blade reels and smooth or grooved front rollers, plus optional greens tender conditioners and rear roller power brushes. Featuring a patented SpeedLink system, John Deere’s QA cutting cylinders provide quick and easy height of cut adjustment from either side of the units.

 Details of the special 175th anniversary offer are available from John Deere dealers nationwide.

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