New fleet for new course - Sandburn Hall Golf Club

New fleet for new course

By Steve Mitchell

Opened in June 2005, Sandburn Hall Golf Club at Flaxton, near York, is a new par 72, 6700 yard course with eight acres of man-made lakes, set in mature woodland within a 1000 acre estate that includes a number of luxury, oak framed holiday lodges.

Designed by Bryan Moor of OCM Associates in Dalbeattie, Scotland, the golf course has also been planted with over 75 acres of native hardwood trees, 80,000 in all, and features a magnificent natural oak clubhouse with restaurant, a golfing academy with outdoor driving range and an indoor facility.

The overall complex was the vision of Michael Hogg, whose name is commemorated on the clubhouse balcony, and whose son James is the estates manager. "We have tried to create something different here at Sandburn Hall, while ensuring that all the facilities are top class," says James. "In addition to the main 18 hole golf course, we have built two extra holes and we're looking to develop seven more, subject to planning permission, so that we can also provide a nine hole par 3 course. Our members and customers want value for money and good quality, and that's what we look for from our suppliers," adds James. "We had always enjoyed a good service from Paul Nicholls of our local dealer F G Adamson & Son, with

The first machine was a 4300 compact tractor and loader, for use around the lodges. This was followed by a 1200A bunker rake, which proved very useful for grading during work on the golf course's root zone, and two further compact tractors, a 4710 and a 4115.

After these came three 220B walk-behind greens mowers and a 3245C rotary mower - this machine was used to cut everything for six months, including the fairways, semi-roughs and roughs, to encourage the grass to grow. The final additions to the fleet were a 2653A tees & surrounds mower and a 2500A greens mower. These are all now used by six full-time greens staff, led by course manager Brian Hall, who helped build the course.

Website: www.johndeere.co.uk

The photograph shows Sandburn Hall estates manager James Hogg (left) with John Deere dealer principal John Adamson of F G Adamson & Son, who are based at Swanland, North Ferriby in East Yorkshire, and the new golf course equipment fleet.