Northern Ireland Golf Clubs choose Wiedenmann Deep Aerators

Northern Ireland Golf Clubs choose Wiedenmann Deep Aerators

By Peter Driver

More and more golf clubs throughout Northern Ireland are appreciating the benefits of deep aeration, especially its effectiveness to relieve compaction and open up the soil and allow water to disperse.

Wiedenmann have been manufacturing deep aerators for over 30 years and their dealers in Northern Ireland have been particularly active in recent months with strong sales throughout the province.

Jackie Crawford, head greenkeeper at Donaghadee Golf Club in County Down has been using a Terra Spike XP160 for the past 6 months and is very impressed. "It's a great machine", he said, "ideal for our greens and fairways; we've seen a noticeable difference to water draining away in wet weather."

Holywood Golf Club, the 18-hole parkland course near Bangor purchased a Terra Spike XP 12 months ago and head greenkeeper Paul Mathieson says, "The XP gives a high quality finish and promotes better roots and greater grass coverage. It's simple to use and changing tines is an easy operation. Having our own machine eliminates contractor costs and gives us the flexibility to do the job when we want to. In the past 12months we've aerated our fairway three times also used it extensively on heavy use areas."

In May 1995 Darren Clarke officially opened Rockmount Golf Club near Carryduff, owned by Robert and Diane Paterson. Today it is a thriving 700 member club with a strong junior section. Head greenkeeper Alan McVeigh has been at the club since the growing in 11 years ago. "We use our XP all over the course and it's great at relieving compaction", he said. "Our greens and tees have the same construction and we use 12mm tines to depth of 250-300mm to keep the rootzone open. On the fairways we use 18mm and 25mm and get as deep as we can. Superb machine!"

Recently promoted former first assistant Mark Cassidy, head greenkeeper at Lurgan Golf Club in Co Armagh, also uses a Terra Spike XP. "We are an 18-hole, private members club and always aim to provide the very best conditions for our members", he said. "Our Terra Spike has been fitted with hydraulic depth control and this makes it easy for the operator to lift and lower the machine depending on the ground conditions. The anti-vibration systems are very effective and it gives a smooth ride. My overall impression is that it's a very good piece of kit."