The greenkeeper's apprentice

The Mantis BunkerMaster is what every Greenkeeper needs. It's the perfect solution for bunkers and around tees and greens. So versatile, it switches from sand trap restoration to grounds maintenance in seconds and its light weight and compact shape make it easy to carry around and stow in the back of a cart or UTV.

General play and heavy rain compact the sand in bunkers and hand work to restore them is time consuming. Although bunkers cover only one or two percent of the course they can take up as much as twenty-five percent of resources to maintain. The balance can be addressed with the Mantis BunkerMaster.

It aerates the top 36mm / 1 ½" of sand but never digs in too aggressively. There is the choice of powerful commercial grade 4-stroke engines, the Subaru 35cc or Honda 25cc. Both spin 60 spring steel picks at up to 200 RPM, yet they are lightweight and offer a low cost solution to fast redistribution of the sand.The powertrain is virtually indestructible with a precision steel-cut gear system in a heavy-duty cast housing for durability.

The Mantis BunkerMaster is designed to work away from the operator for maximum control, while the handle height is adjustable to suit the user. Full throttle control is activated through a centrifugal clutch, engaging the tines only when the throttle is squeezed, and the ergonomic comfort grips are easy on the hand. Weighing in from only 19kg/42 lbs the machine is easy to handle and perfect for working around tight edges and banks, re-distributing the sand with ease to get bunkers back into shape.

For areas thick with moss, thatch or overgrown grass around banks the Mantis Bunkermaster removes ingrained sand and thatch in even the most awkward areas; three times faster than hand raking - and it's a lot less tiring. There's a convenient bicycle-style kickstand to 'park' the Mantis BunkerMaster for re-fuelling and there is a two-year warranty for commercial use.

Schiller Grounds Care UK is on stand M70 at Windsor.