Immaculate Fairways at Duff House Golf Club.

Immaculate Fairways at Duff House Golf Club.

By Peter Driver

The beautifully manicured parkland course at Duff House Royal Golf Club in Banfff on the east coast of Scotland will look even better this season following the purchase of a new Jacobsen light fairway mower from Fairways GM of Kinross. The new Jacobsen LF-3800 joins a similar five-year old machine and will be used to maintain the fairways on the James Braid-designed course.

The course was redesigned in 1923 by Dr. Alister Mackenzie, who later went on to design the world famous Augusta National in Georgia, home to the US Masters.

Gordon Leslie has been with the club for 22 years and has been head greenkeeper for the past 7½ years. He leads a team of five, all who were consulted when a new fairway mower was being specified.

"We looked at various machines", he said, "but our experience with our previous LF was a major factor in our decision. The build quality and the quality of cut is unsurpassed. The 44hp turbocharged Kubota diesel engine provides plenty of power and the cylinders provide a tournament quality finish. We specified a cab and this is almost a necessity due to our location here on the coast!"

The 6161 yard course is bounded by the River Deveron and the large "Mackenzie" two-tiered greens, many well positioned bunkers and trees make the course a severe but fair challenge to golfers of all abilities.

Photo caption: (l-r) Wilson Morrison of Fairways GM and Gordon Leslie, head greenkeeper with his team at Duff House Royal Golf Club.