Hunstanton Golf Club, in North West Norfolk, has replaced its old sprayer with a new Toro Multi Pro 5800 in light of statutory NSTS testing being introduced in the UK.


Hunstanton's head greenkeeper Peter Read, seated, with Lely's Norfolk-based sales manager Danny Lake and the club's new Toro Multi Pro 5800 sprayer

The NSTS test has become a requirement for all boom sprayers this year under the requirements of the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD). The SUD, mandatory throughout the EU, is designed to further enhance the high level of protection achieved through the entire regulatory system for pesticides.

Hunstanton's head greenkeeper Peter Read says that a new sprayer was imperative given the new testing regulations: "Our previous sprayer was getting very old; with the new laws coming in, it was never going to pass the test."

Continuing, he explains why the club opted for Toro when appraising sprayers on the market: "Others had recommended it, assuring me it was the best you can buy for the job. Now we've had a chance to use it, it's even better than I expected. It's easy to use and is foolproof once programmed."

Equally important in Peter's decision was the after-sales service on offer from Toro and distributor Lely. "Danny Lake [Lely's Norfolk-based sales manager] was a key factor in choosing Toro," he says. "He offers great advice and is a close-by point of contact should there be any issues."

Rated as one of Britain & Ireland's 'Top 100' courses, Hunstanton is a championship links course that's undergone extensive redevelopment of late, including new bunkering of all four par 5s and reshaping of the 8th and 10th holes. The current phase of development will be completed this winter with the redesign of the 1st and 18th holes.

"With the course's development nearing completion, now's the perfect time to invest in new machinery, ensuring that the improvements we're making are perfectly maintained," Peter concludes.