John Deere dealer Turner Groundscare played a key support role as Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham & St Annes prepared for back-to-back major championships.

The Open at Royal Birkdale 

Both established John Deere customers, the clubs received additional machinery, technical support and training to meet the demands of hosting The Open Championship and AIG Women’s Open within the space of a fortnight.

At Royal Birkdale, Turner Groundscare began working alongside the club’s workshop team around five weeks before The Open, carrying out servicing, sharpening, setting bottom blades and adjusting roller settings. A dealer technician was then on site throughout championship week.

“For the week before and the week of the tournament we had a Turner Groundscare technician here pretty much all day, every day,” said Birkdale course manager Sean McLean. “Even outside of tournaments, the dealer provides very good support for us.”

Turner also supported Royal Lytham & St Annes during the AIG Women’s Open, working alongside the club’s mechanic and lead to ensure machinery was prepared and any issues could be addressed promptly.

John Deere supplied additional machinery at both venues, with the Lytham fleet including 11 2775 greens mowers, six 8000AE fairway mowers and eight TE Gators. More than 30 greenkeepers operated the machinery, approximately twice the club’s regular team.

Lytham course manager Paul Smith said the combination of additional machinery and dealer support provided “an added level of assurance” during the championship.

“A major championship is only ever achievable by having this high level of support, backup, and knowledge in all areas, but particularly the machinery element that John Deere and Turner Groundscare provided,” he said.