A Hole In One! Kärcher’s Battery Powered Range Delights Swinley Forest Golf Club
Carved into spectacular heathland surroundings, the course at Swinley Forest Golf Club undulates past heather, pine woods, azaleas, and rhododendrons, much to the delight of its private members. Having changed little over the last 100 years, the 6,431-yard course plays deceptively long and provides a test of skill for golfers of all abilities. However, maintaining the course amid this attractive greenery and rural location presents its own unique challenges.
As with all golf courses, taming the natural landscape can be tricky when it comes to green maintenance and keeping fairways in optimum playing order. From unwanted foliage on the greens to the upkeep of bunkers, ensuring that grounds teams have the right tools at their disposal is essential. With the rising cost of fuel and the need to reduce noise pollution to avoid disturbing players and local wildlife, head green keeper Tony Stephen recently turned to Kärcher’s Professional Landscape Management range to capitalise on the benefits that come with the use of battery power.
First launched in 2021, Kärcher’s battery powered Professional Landscape Management range features a host of different machines powered by Kärcher’s unique battery universe platform technology. With two batteries to choose from, 18V and 36V, users can make use of handheld blowers, strimmers, chainsaws and more.
When it came to sourcing a battery powered range that would work for Swinley Forest Golf Club, Tony was focused on finding a solution that would increase the productivity of his groundskeeping team. With the ability to switch the batteries between different applications, all powered by the same voltage, Kärcher’s unique PLM range stood out ahead of the field.
Tony commented, “We wanted to find a solution that would enable us to maximise the use of different equipment without having to worry about charging over and over again. The LCD display on the Kärcher batteries means that you can easily see how much runtime you have left depending on the machine you are using and the setting you are on. It also helps to show you how long they have left to charge, enabling you to plan your tasks and ensure you have access to power as and when you need it.”
For use around the course, Tony and his team were excited by the opportunities to do touch up work as and when it was needed. Fixing the handheld blowers to the ride-on grass cutters was ideal for quick jobs around the course that would otherwise need to be done using noisy petrol-powered machines.
Tony mentioned, “We always need to remove loose foliage prior to grass cutting for a professional finish and the addition of the blowers to the ride-ons means that our groundskeepers can easily clear the surface prior to cutting. Kärcher’s lightweight blowers are powerful and highly adept at removing loose debris. With the addition of a turbo mode for stubborn materials, the handheld blower is an effective and valuable tool in our groundskeeping arsenal.”
Alongside maintaining fairways and greens to meet the high standards that players have come to expect, the groundskeepers also put the strimmers to work when it comes to bunker maintenance. Making use of the top handle strimmer, the groundskeepers are able to easily manage bunkers by removing over-hanging grass to leave a professional and manicured finish.
The brush cutter function is also ideal for use around the clubhouse and to tidy up trees across the course and ensure a clean and presentable playing area. The battery-powered chainsaw, with its high 23m/s chain speed, is regularly deployed for touching up work and, with its quiet and brushless motor system, it helps to reduce noise across the course.
Tony highlighted that the reduction in noise was of particular importance to the team. He added, “Players expect a quiet environment to enable them to focus on their shot and not be distracted. Anything we can do to help facilitate this whilst also carrying out much-needed groundskeeping at the same time is essential and the addition of battery powered equipment will help us to do this without impacting on the playing experience.”
With the movement to battery power top of mind for many companies looking to reduce fuel costs, noise and increase productivity, Kärcher’s Professional Landscape Management range enables groundskeepers to deliver on all of these, without compromise. Featuring a range of expert professional equipment designed to help users meet their goals, Kärcher is a trusted and reliable brand offering outdoor maintenance solutions to suit businesses of all sizes.
