Cut the cost of fairway management

Greenkeepers and turf advisors can now find out the potential time and cost savings for individual courses using Primo Maxx II to reduce mowing requirements on fairways.

The Primo Maxx Cost Calculator uses a club's current costs and routine of fairway cutting, to give an instant answer for its potential cost savings from a reduced frequency of mowing.

An independent survey of management on a range of golf courses revealed the average area of fairways was 14 hectares - taking just under 11 man hours for each cut. For courses cutting fairways three times per week, the use of Primo Maxx II to eliminate one cut per week through the season would see a cost saving of over £6220 per year.

The calculator allows users to input their own costs for labour - for operating and machinery maintenance - the cost of fuel, repairs and mower depreciation.

Syngenta Technical Manager, Glenn Kirby, highlighted fairways are the largest areas of playing surface on the golf course, and for many take the greatest amount of labour to cut and manage. “The calculator enables club’s to look more closely at techniques to reduce costs and improve the turf quality - which are both elements essential for financial viability and to enhance the playing experience. 

“We have seen from the results of the STRI Lockdown Trial that there is real potential for lower intensity turf management, whilst retaining turf quality and playability,” Glenn reported.

“Primo Maxx is integral to reducing workloads and managing costs.”

The STRI trials showed an average 35% reduction in turf growth from the treatment programmes.

Glenn pointed out that using Primo Maxx to reduce mowing will also lower the wear and tear on machines and potentially extend their working life, which all helps to lower operating costs and save money. The survey showed clubs’ average cost of spares on fairway mowers was £5650 a year.

Combined with the depreciation from an average seven-year operating life of fairways mowers, the reduction in mowing by a typical 25% to 33% per week through the growing season offered substantial savings.

“Experience of greenkeepers who regularly use Primo Maxx on fairways repeatedly shows that the clean cut and tight sward helps with ball lie and playability,” he advised.

“The Primo Maxx Calculator is a really useful tool to assess potential savings and to communicate with the Club for budgets and investment.”

The Primo Maxx Calculator is free to use among the Greencast Tools for more efficient turf management.