Golf Business News – Kubota delivers power and productivity at Meldrum House
The arrival of two Kubota tractors has proved a game-changer at Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course in Scotland, with the high-powered machines giving the estate management team the ability to tackle larger and more specialist tasks in-house, to the benefit of both the golf course and wider estate.
Following the Aberdeenshire venue’s purchase by Apex Hotels almost a year ago, Meldrum House Golf Course and Grounds Manager Kenny Harper was tasked with the replacement of the estate’s tractor fleet – and he knew exactly where to turn thanks to his longstanding relationship with local dealers HRN Tractors.
“A major part of any equipment purchase for us is the back-up support we receive, and we know we have that in HRN,” Kenny explains. “With that assured, we then needed to know that the machines themselves were up to task when HRN switched franchises to Kubota. They brought in demonstrator models and it wasn’t long before we decided that was spot on too.”
“Increasingly, we were finding implements were putting too much strain on the tractor, or the tractor itself didn’t have enough power or grip for some of the heavier tasks. The solution was to purchase two Kubota models – an L2452 which is a straight replacement for a similar size compact tractor we were using and the M4, which is a pretty sizeable step-up to give us greater scope and capacity.”
The M4 series from Kubota is a proven all-rounder, with an extremely spacious and comfortable cab and a reliable, efficient 4-cylinder Kubota diesel engine at its core. With 74hp, the M4073 model delivers maximum power and particularly strong rear hydraulics to provide full lifting power to suit all greenkeeping and estate management tasks.
“One feature the team and I particularly like on both tractors is the gear selection and constant speed controller which gives us pinpoint control over engine speed which is important for creeper tasks such as trenching or sandbanding,” says Kenny. “The pair have been pretty much non-stop since they arrived with winter aeration and renovation works and haven’t missed a beat.”
Another of the winter tasks the M4073 has taken in its stride is woodland management across the 18 parkland holes and hotel estate. Partnered with a new 8-tonne trailer, Kenny and the team now benefit from twice as much space and power than their previous set-up.
Kenny adds: “We had to hire-in equipment for large tree works and were dependent on what was available when we needed it. The Kubota and trailer now enable us to conduct the task in-house which, in itself, brings many benefits. We’re yet to really find anything the M4 can’t do!”