UK's first MagKnife units delivered

UK's first MagKnife units delivered

Two Lincolnshire golf clubs are the first in the country to take delivery of Jacobsen ride on mowers with the first two production units featuring MagKnife, the revolutionary magnetic bottom blade attachment system launched at Saltex last year

Local dealer, Lawn Mower Services of Wellingore has been particularly active and secured the first commercial deliveries of MagKnife to Waltham Windmill Golf Club and Spalding Golf Club respectively.

Waltham Windmill is a Jim Payne designed 18 hole, 6,400 yard par 71 course situated in 125 acres of rolling Lincolnshire countryside. Natural springs around the course ensure a mixture of interesting water features throughout the parkland setting.

Head Greenkeeper Simon Willey was in the market for a new greens mower and had demonstrations from the major manufacturers.

"I chose the Jacobsen G-Plex III because it's a good drive from an operators' viewpoint, serviceability is excellent and the quality of cut is superb. The best accolade that I can give MagKnife is that we don't know it's been fitted, the quality of cut is magnificent."

Geoff Houghton, First Assistant and Mechanic added, "I'd seen the press reports and then saw a demonstration at BTME. From my standpoint it's going to be a real timesaver when we come to change blades later in the season and I'll certainly keep an old set for use after top dressing. The ease of changing the bottom blade will encourage better turf maintenance practice and inevitably produce better putting surfaces."

Spalding Golf Club, located on the outskirts of the town, is an 18 hole, 6,478 yard par 71 course in an established parkland setting with numerous water hazards including a drive on the second over the River Glen.

John Maskell is the Head Greenkeeper and he has just taken delivery of a specially adapted Jacobsen T-Plex which has been specially modified to suit the compact tee boxes on the course.

"We chose MagKnife because we are undertaking a programme to rejuvenate our tees and provide a better quality surface. Our T-Plex has the optional 11-knife reels which produces a finer cut with more cuts per metre and has also been fitted with wheels and tyres from a Jacobsen G-Plex III. With 10" rims and 12" ribbed tyres we achieve better traction on the steep sided slopes to some of the tee boxes and can cut very close to the edge of bunkers without disturbing the lip.

"We are also looking at MagKnife reels for our Fairway 405 as they will certainly reduce downtime when we have to change the blades on the seven units. As the reels are interchangeable with the T-Plex this will provide me with flexibility, should we encounter any problems."