Trip across the pond solves drainage problem

They say travel broadens the mind, and a trip to America certainly paid dividends for Chris Brook, who is in charge of course maintenance at the prestigious Mentmore Golf & Country Club in rural Buckinghamshire.

While attending the recent GCSAA (Golf Course Superintendents of America Association) Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Chris discovered the perfect solution for removing water from bunkers and hollows on the Club's two championship courses. The ingenious TrunkPump attaches to a tractor for speedy and efficient pumping tasks, and Chris was delighted to learn that he could buy one immediately from sole UK distributor, Campey Turf Care Systems.

"Mentmore has a lot of hollows, bunkers and lakes that can fill up rapidly," says Chris, who is Course Manager with The Club Company (UK) Ltd, the Club's owner. "The TrunkPump is perfect. Driven by the PTO of our tractor, it is much more cost-effective than using a separate petrol powered pump.

"It makes pumping a one-man operation, saving time and staff resources, and it moves water amazingly fast. We can also add extra lengths of hose without affecting pump pressure. With our TrunkPump we can quickly pump water into ditches, lakes and any other outlet points," says Chris, who manages a greenkeeping staff of 11. "I would definitely recommend it to other clubs."

A patented tool-free attaching system allows the TrunkPump to be fitted in under a minute. The pump primes in seconds and can move up to 250 gallons (1125 litres) per minute. Hoses remain attached during transportation for operational efficiency, and special shallow-water strainers are available for optimum performance. The 3in (7.5cm) plastic centrifugal pump is resistant to salt water and chemicals.

"Previously, we used a floating bunker pump connected to a 2in (5cm) hose," says Chris. "It was petrol powered, needed two people and was limited in the length of hose it could take. But the TrunkPump does a proper job."

Set in picturesque countryside overlooking the Vales of Aylesbury and the Chiltern Hills, Mentmore Golf & Country Club lies in the shadow of Mentmore Towers, the magnificent country home built for Baron Meyer Amschel de Rothschild.

The topography of the Club's Rothschild and Rosebery courses means the TrunkPump is kept busy. Both are played over rolling parkland with numerous lakes, bunkers and water hazards.

www.campeyturfcare.com