Business Initiative of the Year

Mortonhall Golf Club’s emerging Greenkeeping equipment rental business has won the 2022 Club Awards Business Initiative of the Year. The club’s Peter Flowers shares the details.

Founded in 1892, Mortonhall Golf Club is the oldest course in the City of Edinburgh over which golf is still played and is regarded as one of Scotland’ s premier clubs. With its immaculategreensandfairways,linedwithmaturetreesthe course is a superb championship test of 6530 yards, boasting unrivalled scenic views across Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth and the Pentland Hills.

In mid-2021 the club pivoted from being a renter of specialist equipment, paying for the use of some greenkeeping and sharpening equipment, to purchasing that equipment for own use and as a revenue generator through the rental of these assets to other clubs. This has delivered substantial benefits to the club.

Mortonhall is delighted to be contributing to its community of local golf and sporting clubs through the sharing of new-technology expertise and sharing of access to capital-intensive specialist assets, a trend which is expected to continue as golf clubs move forward with increasing levels of professional management and respond to today ’ s cost challenges.

In2021theclubpurchasedoneofthefirsttractormounted VGR TopChangers in the UK. This innovativemachineuseshighpressurewaterandvacuum effecttoinjectsandintogreensandotherareasofthe course.Mortonhallhasusedthisnotonlytoimprove significantlythehealthandqualityofourowngreens, increase time members play on “ good greens ” but alsotogeneratesignificantadditionalrevenueforthe club by providing VGR services to other golf clubs and athletic organisations across the Central Belt of Scotland and UK. Cash payback of the initial investment was less than 18 months.

Using the VGR TopChanger replaces the traditional coring & sand treatment of the club’ s greens. To date, some 200 tonnes of sand has been placed into Mortonhall’ s 18 greens and 2 putting greens using this technology. Some 30 tonnes of sand has been put into the aprons. The increase in volume and the greater depth of sand injection delivers a vastly improved soil structure by reducing the level of organic matter. Drainage improvements and better durability to cold weather lengthens the playing season. Firmer greens and better root health deliver better and more consistent speeds. Water and chemical use are reduced, enhancing the sustainability of the course. Green recovery is typically 3-7 days after treatment, resulting in fewer rounds lost, better satisfaction amongst members and visitors, and preservation of visitor fee income.

After the benefits of the VGR treatment became apparent at Mortonhall the club’ s greenkeeping team marketed the VGR services, initially to local golf clubs. As the reputation of the benefits spread the number and variety of clubs availing of the ser-

TopChanger

vice has grown, with clubs typically renting the services for 2 days each year.

A full service is provided by Mortonhall’ s greenkeeping team with a checklist being provided for precision and clarity along with an agronomic assessment for suitability and recovery timescale. Theonlyrequirementoftheclientclubistoprovide water at source and wet or dry sand of their choice and a helping hand when loading. Often all 18 of a club’ s greens can be treated in a single day.

Golfing customers include North Berwick Golf Club(WestCourse),WillerseyGolfClub,Greenock Golf Club, Aberdour Golf Club, Broomieknowe Golf Club and North Shore Golf Club. Interest is increasing amongst other sports, with VGR services already provided to Dunfermline Football Club, Musselburgh Rugby Club and Watsonians RFC.

There is currently a limited availability of VGR and equivalent machines in the UK, with many

Upper photo after VGR treatment with deep sand penetration. Lower photo profile after core and sand treatment with high organic material below depth of tine/sand treatment.

orders being delivered into the US pay-and-play market which places a high value on the economic benefits of VGR treatment as fewer playing days are lost due to poor greens.

The blade-sharpening machine for mowers, purchased on a financing agreement, has an annual cash cost broadly equivalent to fees previously paid to third parties for the sharpening of our mower blades. Purchasing this long-life asset has established the basis for long-term cost savings as well as improving productivity through having convenient and prompt access when sharpening our own equipment. Mower downtime is also reduced. Sharpening services are offered to third parties with annual income expected to be close to the annual financing cost and an income which is expected to be sustained for the next 5 years.

Taken together, these initiatives ring the following benefits: • Improved quality and health of greens at

Mortonhall Golf Club • Members have more “ good green ” days through faster recovery and better drainage. • Significant non-golf income to the benefit all

Mortonhall Golf Club members • Long-term savings on sharpening costs and a sustained income from providing sharpening services to other clubs • Lower mower downtime due to better access to sharpening • Greater visitor satisfaction and more capacity for visitor fee income as fewer days impacted by green maintenance • Improved greens and playability at client clubs • Sharing the high value VGR asset is an efficient use of capital across the golf industry. This assists otherlocalclubsthatmaynotbeabletopurchase machine on their own • Mortonhall’ sgreenteamgaintrainingandexpertise in this emerging technology and in training staff at other locations • The Club’ s reputation for greenkeeping is enhanced

MORE DETAILS

e. info@mortonhallgc.co.uk t. 0131 4476974 Mortonhall Golf Club, 231 Braid Road, Edinburgh EH10 6PB www.Mortonhallgc.co.uk