The European Tour and European Tour Courses are delighted to announce a new five-year partnership agreement with Toro becoming the official supplier of turf maintenance equipment and irrigation products.
The agreements were signed by The Toro Company, from Minneapolis, USA, at the European Tour Headquarters at the end of last year.
Toro will supply each European Tour venue with full tournament support covering both turf machinery and additional irrigation requirements. Additionally, there will be full technical support, back-up and training for operators as appropriate.
Throughout the 1990s, continued growth of the European Tour and its international reputation has steadily attracted more and more of the world's most accomplished golfers. In 1998, half of the top ten Official World Ranking players were European Tour winners. This global approach has given the European Tour new breadth.
David Garland, Director of Tour Operations of the European Tour, said: "Toro is a market leader and can provide us with a total solution. The high quality of its machinery, its professionalism and high level support will help us to further improve the standard of the European Tour courses.
"One of the main reasons we selected Toro was that it offered irrigation expertise too. We have had some concerns about the standard of irrigation at tournament venues. But with Toro on board I am confident that we can solve these problems and keep the courses in top condition."
Phil Burkart, International Managing Director for The Toro Company, said: "We are delighted to have been chosen by both the European Tour and European Tour Courses. Both agreements are supported not just by the UK but by The Toro Company worldwide, which means we can draw upon all our expertise to support this European operation."
European Tour Courses has teamed up with The Toro Company to purchase turf maintenance machinery and irrigation products for its seven golf establishments in the UK and Europe. European Tour Courses owns and manages a number of courses on the European Tour including Woburn Golf and Country Club, venue of the Victor Chandler British Masters.
A number of the European Tour courses are already committed Toro users, including Woburn Golf and Country Club. Another is Quinta do Lago, in Portugal, which has a Toro irrigation system and will buy machinery as part of the new agreement. To these will soon be added the four courses at the high-profile new Fleesensee golf resort, near Berlin, which opens in April 2000 and will host the Fleesensee Legends on the European Seniors Tour in September. The deal is one of the biggest of its kind in Europe.
Sales and Marketing Manager for PGA European Tour Courses, Paul Kimberley, said: "I am confident that The Toro Company can assist us in maintaining the standards demanded by our courses. We own and operate tournament venues in different countries, and Toro was the preferred choice of all of our greens staff. This is attributable to the quality of machinery and level of service Toro provide around Europe."
Toro's European Sales Manager Bob Buckingham, said: "Toro is very pleased to have been selected as preferred supplier by both organisations. I believe our success is directly attributable to, and a reflection of, Toro's total solutions, and our European-wide ability to be able to support venues through our wide distribution networks."
