Stowmarket Golf Club recently took delivery of a new Trilo SG400 vacuum collector with optional Scarifier, and Head Greenkeeper Matt Gill has already used it to great effect.

He says: “It’s early days, but I have been extremely impressed with the machine so far.” The parkland course in rural Suffolk features many mature trees, so leaf clearance is a vital task to keep the club spick and span. We use the wander hose to clear leaves around the course, clubhouse and car parks, and it’s very manoeuvrable and easy to operate,” he comments.

The Trilo has also proved to be an extremely efficient Scarifier, “We’ve already scarified seven fairways, and I’m really happy with the results,” says Matt. Changing from flail collecting to scarification is a simple matter of altering the gearing and swapping the 1.5m heads.

The SG400, which has a high tip hopper with a capacity of 4cu.m, is actually doing the work of two machines having replaced a flail collector and a Scarifier. “Previously we had to clear up after the old machine, but the clean, effective collection system of the Trilo means that it can be done in one pass and by one man. We also plan to use it to cut and collect long rough on an annual basis, which our previous machines couldn’t do, so we’ll get even more out of the SG400” confirmed Matt.