New workshop for Wales

Maureen Keepinin Industry News

New workshop for Wales

By Maureen Keepin

WALES is a hive of activity as the Celtic Manor Resort in the City of Newport hosts the prestigious Wales Open and prepares the new golf course, ready for the Ryder Cup in 2010. New workshop facilities are planned to service this championship course - to be equipped with Bernhard and Company grinders.
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"They are the only ones as far as I am concerned," says Cal Callaby, Workshop Manager. "We plan to have their latest Express Dual 5000 spin grinder, which has an enclosed cabinet to minimize noise and dust levels. With this highly automated machine we can complete other tasks while the mower blades are being ground. For rotary blade grinding we hope to have a new Bernhard Rotamaster 4000."

New workshop


A series of existing barns will be converted to create the new workshop. "As the new clubhouse overlooks the four barns part of the planning condition is they have to be built to resemble a farm layout," says Jim McKenzie, Director of Estates Management and Ryder Cup Courses Development. "Our current maintenance facility services the Roman Road and Coldra Woods courses, but is more than a mile away from the new Ryder Cup course. Logistically an additional facility is vital.
Through a costing exercise, it was found otherwise that lost man-hours in travelling to and from the new course would be significant."
Non-interference during tournaments was also essential.
"You cannot have machines crossing the Roman Road course to get to the Ryder Cup course," he says. We are in the process of planning the workshop and Cal Callaby is carrying out a machinery appraisal taking into account the new holes," says Jim. "Staff-wise I hope we will take on an extra mechanic, so there will be two at each site."

Setting up


"Space is the prime thing within a workshop and it is far better to have too much, rather than too little," says Cal. "There are many factors to take into account when introducing new facilities. From past experience I can gauge how best to utilize this space to create the workshop area, office and irrigation stores. We also need to look at a one-way traffic system and where re-fuelling should take place. All this information will help in the design process," he says.

Championship cut


Jim McKenzie wants to ensure his fleet of more than 130 cutting units, which includes ride-ons, walk-behinds and triplex mowers, has the sharpest blades set with 'no contact' so they cut cleanly through the grass blades like a scalpel. When you start getting the greens right down for major competitions all imperfections show up," says Jim. "Cutting in this way there is less damage to the grass plants and we reap the benefit of healthier turf with a reduced requirement for water and fertilizer. Our new workshop will help ensure the Ryder Cup course is a true testament to top tournament presentation."

OFFERING A FREE GRINDING DEMONSTRATION contact Kim on 01788 811600 for further details, visit the web - www.bernhard.co.uk or e-mail info@bernhard.co.uk

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