30/04/2018 | Ventrac
DJUKE, the specialist sports turf maintenance company, managed by former Queenwood course manager Cameron McMillan, has purchased a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and a selection of implements to enhance the company’s service portfolio to golf courses and other turf-related businesses. The new package of machinery was delivered and installed by local dealer, RT Machinery, based at Nether Winchendon, Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.
Cameron McMillan, who was at Queenwood for 15 years through the initial construction phase, grow-in and the opening in 2001 until 2015, is one of the McMillian dynasty that has managed many prestigious golf courses in the south of England.
We purchased the Ventrac to broaden our service offering to our growing client base, he said. Since establishing the company in 2015 we have become known as aeration and drainage specialists through our DryJect, Graden and PC Drainage franchises. We are now enhancing our range of services to help customers maintain everything within the boundary of their property.
Our initial purchase included Ventrac’s ToughCut deck, the Power Rake and a Power Brush. Woodland management is a time-intensive task for any on-site greenkeeping team. The ToughCut deck is excellent for managing these areas; it can cut through bracken, brambles and young saplings with ease and leaves a very acceptable finish. The Power Rake is very impressive. We had a demonstration on a foul day and it renovated the surfaces of machinery pathways and golf car paths with ease. The Power Brush is typical of Ventrac’s attachments, easy to connect to the tractor and highly efficient in use. I can’t believe how compact, powerful and manoeuvrable the Ventrac is, whichever attachment is connected.
Without doubt this addition to our fleet will enable us to improve the non-playing surfaces for our clients and provide business opportunities that were not previously open to us. I’m delighted with the machinery package and the superb service provided by Rupert Price and his team.
Cameron McMillan has been in the fine turf industry for 36 years, beginning his career as a trainee at Sunningdale in 1982. He moved to Liphook as head greenkeeper at the tender age of 21, before getting involved with his first construction project at Pffafing Golplatz in Bavaria in 1990. In 1992 he joined Laleham Golf Club in Chertsey as course manager, moving to Stockley Park before taking the position at Queenwood in 2000.
18/07/2017 | Ventrac
…To Help Maintain The Grounds Of Their World-Class Training Centre!
Last season’s FA Premier League runners-up Tottenham Hotspur Football Club have taken delivery of a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and three out-front attachments to help maintain the landscaped areas at their world-class Training Centre in Enfield, North London.
Commenting on the new equipment, Darren Baldwin, Head of Playing Surfaces and Estates at the club said,
I was in discussion with a major machinery manufacturer about a mower to cut my steep landscaped areas around the Training Centre. By chance, Rupert Price of Price Turfcare, who I have known for many years, had a demonstration nearby postponed at short notice. He gave me a call and asked if he could pop in for a chat and a coffee and perhaps show me his machine.
This chance meeting evolved into one of the best decisions I’ve made this year. I looked at the machine, and to be absolutely honest, I doubted its ability to perform here. We took it to the western end of the complex, which we are developing as a community area and where we have a large perimeter bank, which we have not touched since we moved here from our old Training Centre in Chigwell.
Rupert had the Tough Cut deck on the tractor unit at the time and I was blown away by its performance. It knocked down and mulched vegetation that was probably two metres high and on some very severe slopes. I was amazed that a 24 hp machine could clear unmaintained areas with apparent ease. However, that’s only part of the reason for purchasing the Ventrac. I was sold on its versatility; changing the numerous attachments is so easy. He changed to the Finishing deck in a couple of minutes and we went out and tried that. Again, it performed extremely well. Completing my initial purchase is the Trencher attachment, which can reach a depth of 1.2 metres and will be invaluable when we are doing renovation work in the future.
Paul Jones, Darren’s right-hand man at the Training Centre added,
The possibilities with this machine are endless. We are constantly evolving and there are many upcoming projects which the Ventrac range of attachments can help us with. In the US, it is used extensively to prepare baseball fields and we use similar techniques during renovation. I’m sure it won’t be long before we add to the list of attachments. Highlighting what Darren has already said, the speed of changing between implements is impressive, the access to the blades under the decks is easy with some clever engineering and the versatility is second to none.
It’s a challenging time again for Darren and his team at the Training Centre with a massive pitch renovation programme in place, the construction of the new 45-room Lodge and the landscaping of a helicopter landing area.
Darren concluded saying,
This is a hugely exciting time for everyone on the grounds team here at Tottenham. In a year’s time we will be managing the most advanced sporting arena in the world. The technological solutions that are evolving to manage the new stadium pitch would have been unimaginable a few years ago. The hybrid turf Football pitch sits in three trays above an artificial American football pitch. The three trays separate and then slide into a parked position below the south stand and southern podium, where it will continue growing using the latest grow lighting technology and also mown daily.
However, we also need to maintain the highest standards at the Training Centre and with 24 grounds staff maintaining 20 training pitches on a 77-acre site, we need the best possible equipment we can procure. I believe we have done this with the addition of the Ventrac to our machinery fleet.
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Turf Matters Website
Turf Business Website
LAPU Website
Pitchcare
18/01/2017 | Trade show, Ventrac
Managing Director Rupert Price commenting on the first two days at BTME;
“What a great way to launch the business! The show has been the perfect platform for us with significant enquiries including three that look like they will turn into sales. Also excellent media interest with several interviews and a video interview with Turf TV. I’m delighted with the response and interest we’ve received.”
12/12/2016 | Ventrac
During December 2016 Ventrac awarded Price Turfcare sole rights to distribute their entire product range throughout the UK and Ireland. Call us right now to discuss how this amazing equipment can solve problems and increase your efficiency.
