Dennis S500 Plus eases the workload at Bush Hill Park

Fiona Gebbettin Bowls

P1000312.JP[1]A Dennis S500 plus aerator is helping the enthusiastic team of amateur greenkeepers at Bush Hill Park Bowls and Tennis Club keep their greens in tip top condition.

The club is based near Enfield, Middlesex, and offers members a seven rink green as well as tennis courts and a lively social club.

Celebrating its centenary year in 2012, the club originally focused on croquet, but now has 116 bowls members.

Maintenance of the greens is handled by contractors in the winter months, starting with renovation at the end of the season, and continuing with scarifcation, spiking and reseeding to prepare the playing surfaces for the new season.

In April, a 'greens team' from the club's membership takes over, including 2011 captain David Cruddington, working to a rota under the direction of greenkeeper Bill Bunn.

"We have always used a pedestrian sarel roller on a weekly basis to open up the turf, allowing air into the roots," says David. "However, Bill is in his seventies, and he was finding it increasingly difficult to push the roller."

A visit to the nearby Welwyn Garden City Bowls Club introduced the team to the Dennis S500.
"Welwyn have a very good green, and they wholeheartedly recommended the S500. We could see it was the ideal solution."

The S500 has a working width of 510mm (20in) for a productive output while remaining compact enough to easily access greens. Powered by a Q9 Honda low noise and low vibration engine, a slow uptake clutch system offers smooth take off, and the spiker reel creates 50sqm of holes per average bowling green. It is also available with a slotter reel and seeder box for overseeding of greens.

P1000310.JP[1]After a discussion with the club's board of directors, a demonstration of the S500 plus was arranged.
"We could see that it was exactly what we needed - the machine puts plenty of holes in the greens and does a better job than a pedestrian sarel roller with less effort. It only took about three quarters of an hour to do each green."

"It is an extremely well built machine, and is very effective. The board of directors accepted that it was money well worth spending and we would expect the S500 plus to last us many years. We were looking for wise investment and ease of use and that is exactly what Dennis has delivered," says David.

Dennis, Howardson Works, Ashbourne Road, Kirk Langley, Derby DE6 4NJ UK
Tel: +44 (0)1332 824777 - Fax: +44 (0)1332 824525 - www.dennisuk.com

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