Castle Stuart Golf Club turn to Campey Turf Care System’s Vredo Super Compact and Air 2G2 for reliable high performance.
Six-years of reliably high germination rates and two years of enhanced aeration has made the dynamic duo of the Vredo Super Compact and Air 2G2 popular choices at the prestigious Castle Stuart Golf Club.
The course that sits in view of Kessock Bridge and Chanonry Lighthouse opened nine years ago in 2009. Managing partner Mark Persinen and architect Gil Hanse co-designed the course, and acclaim was soon to follow as it was voted Best New Course for 2009 in Golf magazine.
The prestige of the course continued to grow, with successive Scottish Open’s played in the highlands from 2011-13, before it returned in 2016. Course manager, Chris Haspell, has been at the helm of the course maintenance for 11 years, and continues to oversee the improvements of the course.
The Vredo overseeder has been in use on his course since 2011, with consistent and fantastic results on the greens, which receive a double pass once a year, and fairways that get a single pass.
The success of the machine comes from its seed application, placing it directly in the ground and removing any external factors that could see it lose contact. Chris has seen this time and time again since first using the seeder, and draws upon its other features to tailor it to the seed he is using.
“In combination with the other machines we use it’s a fantastic piece of kit, and we seem to get a lot of germination with it,” Chris explained. “The machine drills the seed into the ground and does a very good clean job, and we get very consistent germination with it. “Another feature we utilise is the varying seed depth. We adjust it when we’re using different grasses, so the greens are a little bit less etc. but it really depends on the size of the seed we’re using.”
The varying seed depth, double row of 35mm spaced disks, high-germination rate and no disruption to play has the Vredo in use at distinguished venues across Europe. The same high-quality performance also has the Air 2G2 in use across the globe, but more specifically it’s been enhancing operations at the course.
The disruption free use of this revolutionary machine takes place once a year on the fairways, with a double pass on the greens. Chris had specific reasoning behind using the machine as he looked to bring aeration into the summer.
“The Air 2G2 replaced one of our other aeration machines that we were using on the greens, because we wanted to be able to aerate through the summer with minimal impact on the surface.” He explained. “It also helps us with heavy rain in any low spots we’ve got, and it’s very effective in these areas.
“In terms of customer satisfaction, the difference it’s made is 99.9%. You can play straight away and no one knows you’ve been on the course with a machine.”
Since this article Chris Haspell has moved on in the industry and his deputy James Ross has replaced him as Head Greenkeeper at Castle Stuart.
