Sittingbourne's GC new fleet of machinery includes a upgraded G-PLex III.

Sittingbourne & Milton Regis Golf Club, situated in rolling parkland close to the M2 motorway in Kent, have recently taken delivery of £300,000 worth of new turf maintenance equipment in a third consecutive preferred supplier agreement with Ransomes Jacobsen, the Ipswich-based turf equipment manufacturer.

This latest equipment package, which has been financed using Ransomes Jacobsen Finance from ING and was delivered by the Dartford branch of local dealer Ernest Doe & Son Ltd, includes the upgraded version of Jacobsen's G-Plex III greens mower.

The improvements and upgrade to the design of the G-Plex III includes the addition of joystick control for the cutting cylinders, replacing the former paddle arrangement on the steering column and an automotive-style handbrake. Sittingbourne is the first club in the UK to purchase the G-Plex with this upgraded specification.

Course Manager David Horn and his greenkeeping staff were previously using Jacobsen Greens King VI mowers, which featured joystick control, but these had been discontinued.

"My team preferred the joystick control on the previous machines and thought that a handbrake would also be a good feature. We put it to Ransomes Jacobsen, they listened to us and built a machine that matched our specification; that's the benefit of having a manufacturer in the UK, they understand greenkeeping from a European perspective and can react to specific requirements..

"We now have a machine that surpasses the previous mower and it's a great step forward. My guys particularly like the traction from the three-wheel drive, especially on our 4th and 7th greens, which are both split level and good grip is essential. It's a fantastic piece of kit with these upgrades; the best greens mower on the market. Ransomes Jacobsen got it absolutely spot on and surpassed our expectations."

Included in the finance package is a full service and maintenance contract with Ernest Doe

"We financed our previous equipment in a similar way," David Horn added, "as it suits our particular needs. We have known monthly costs and can profile this over the five year term. The service levels from Doe's are extremely high and with each new package we revise the agreement to include additional items that add value."

For more information visit: www.textron.com. www.ransomesjacobsen.com