Buchanan Castle Golf Club chooses Wessex CRX 320 for roughs

Wednesday, 25 October 2023

Buchanan Castle GC has purchased four machines in 19 months from local dealer, Fairways GM at Inchinnan.

Joint Head Greenkeepers, Chris Prior and James Macdonald, opted for the Wessex CRX 320 rough mower when their previous machine started to fail.

“Key machines have come to the end of their natural working lives around the same time, so we’ve just prioritised,” began Chris.

“The seasons just get longer; grass cutting is now normal at this time of year. We’ve still so much to cut and it’s almost November. We’re easily two days a week on the roughs, so the new Wessex goes straight to work. We’re expecting to knock several hours off as it’s wider and more efficient. We’ll keep going until the ground conditions change.”

Chris and James have been working in tandem officially since July 2022, aided by two other full-time colleagues and a seasonal helper.

“We work the way we’ve always done,” continued James. “We have all our plans in place; every morning first thing we agree the day’s jobs and get our heads down. There’s always so much to do. This time last year we had an extensive drainage project on the go. This year, we’re targeting smaller, but just as important tasks… so, work to our path network and several bunkers.”

Buchanan Castle Golf Club, at Drymen, is within touching distance of Loch Lomond. Twenty miles from both Glasgow and Stirling, the parkland course, designed by the legendary James Braid, lies in the foothills of the Scottish Highlands.

Stuart Cameron, Fairways GM’s Area Sales Manager, said: “The Wessex CRX 320 covers ground efficiently and cleanly, always with a precise cut. It’s great to see the machines delivered last year contributing well. The Jacobsen TR320, contour trim mower has done a fine job while the Wiedenmann Mega Twister and Super 500 have been paired together to keep the leaves and clearing duties in check.”