New SISIS Equipment Brings Quick Results at Truro GC
Head Green Keeper, Jim Sheehan, is a long way from his Liverpool roots and West Derby Golf Club where he first encountered the Sisis name. In August of this year he took delivery of a Sisis Multitiner 1.8m Aerator and a Variseeder 1300, with standard discharge roller, and immediately put them both to work.
Jim says, "I had positive memories of the Sisis brand from my early years in greenkeeping and was keen to use the Multitiner Aerator and Variseeder as an integral part of a new maintenance programme we have implemented to address particular issues we have with our greens. They have been predominantly Poa Annua, and as they are on the small side, they do suffer from excessive wear and tear. The work level required to maintain the greens to a satisfactory standard has been extremely high.
The 1.8m Multitiner, drum type tractor mounted aerator, was brought in to strengthen our machinery fleet and give us year round service and its use to date has already produced positive results. It will really come into its own next season when we will be working it on a wide range of areas on the course. The working width of 72" and maximum tine working depth of 4" make it fast and effective and importantly, mean minimal surface disturbance. There is a choice of interchangeable, no tools required, quick release tines, quick release guard cover and a large rear pressure roller for extra weight in hard conditions. The Multitiner has three point linkage for use with most compact tractors of 35hp and above.
Prior to bringing in the new Sisis kit we had been seeding by hand, but since August we have been scarifying and over seeding with pure Bents. We have now over seeded the majority of greens twice in a six week time frame and four greens which had particular problems, fortnightly, also over a six week period. The grass growth and coverage achieved has far exceeded expectation.
The positive effect on our greens and course, in the short time-span since we added the Multitiner aerator and Variseeder to the team, has been superb and I feel we now have both the right course maintenance programme in place and the right kit to deliver it"