SUPPLIER BUSINESS BRIEFS Toro hooks up with Carnoustie By TREVOR LEDGER CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — In prepara- tion for the 1999 British Open, Carnoustie Golf Links has signed a three-year work- ing partnership deal with turf-care pro- vider Toro. The deal, worth more than £380,000, includes the supply of Toro turf- maintenance equipment and on-site sup- port for the Open Championship, Carnoustie's first since 1975. Head greenkeeper at Carnoustie, John NOVARTIS PROMOTES OSBORNE Philp, had been impressed by Toro ma- GREENSBORO, N.C. — Novartis chinery at his previous berth, St. Andrews, Turf & Ornamental Products has pro- where he had prepared for the 1984 Open. moted Jerry Osborne, former golf "I chose Toro based on my past experi- market manager, to the position of ence," said Philip. "I know the products business development manager. and am particularly keen on the greens Carnoustie Golf Links' superintendent John Philp, left, with new Toro equipment and his team (left to Osborne's re- and fairways mowers." right) of Colin Law, Paul O'Connor, Brian Rooke, Eric Watson and Sandy Reid. sponsibilities While all three Carnoustie courses are will include de- renowned for their excellence, the pub- St. Andrews Links inks deal with Barenbrug veloping new licly owned links on the North East coast OOSTERHOUT, Holland/ business oppor- of Scotland has many of the same prob- ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — St. tunities with lems as other, less illustrious tracks. Andrews Links Trust has ap- third-party com- Consider that the course sees around pointed Barenbrug UK as it's panies through 50,000 rounds per year and the scale of exclusive supplier of grass seed strategic acquisi- Philp's task becomes apparent. Jerry Osborne and related products, such as tions and alli- Philp's new Toro fleet will include: seven wild flowers. ances; growing the turf and ornamen- GR3200-D greensmowers; one RM2300-D tal business by working with large utility mower; two RM5300-D fairway mow- The trend of 'single-supplier national accounts and management ers; a GM3000-d for cutting semi-roughs deals' in the machinery market companies; improving internal pro- and five of the new GR1600 pedestrian has been well documented — cesses such as new product launches; mowers for tees and greens collars. In St. Andrews and Toro being a recent example. and negotiating with channel partners addition will be six GR500 pedestrian (Left to right): St. Andrews' Links Manager Ian Forbes and to maximize product portfolio sales in greensmowers on order for the Open. Michel Mulder, managing director of Barenbrug UK. Michel Mulder, managing di- all market segments. rector of Barenbrug UK, con- SUPPLIER BUSINESS BUZZ cedes that: 'This is the first official deal JACKLIN ADDS MEACHAM TO STAFF which is subject to a contract but we have BOISE, Idaho—Travis Meacham MTD launches Pro Sky 's the limit for very similar arrangements, with many has joined Jacklin Seed as a grower other courses, Carnoustie for example." services field representative for Line turf equipment John Deere Co. St. Andrews Links Manager Ian Forbes Jacklin's Ritzville, Wash., operation. CLEVELAND, Ohio—At last month's CHARLESTOWN, Mass. — Accord- is looking forward to the opportunities Meacham's responsibilities will be Outdoor Power Equipment Expo in Lou- ing to a recent report in The Boston that the exclusive supplier deal will bring. placing and contracting Kentucky isville, Ky., MTD Products Inc., an in- Globe, John Deere Co. has acquired "We will also be entering into an education bluegrass proprietary varieties for ternational manufacturer of outdoor Player Systems Corp., the developer and programme with Barenbrug for our Jacklin Seed and Medalist America. power equipment, debuted its MTD Pro manufacturer of Sky Links, a GPS-driven greenkeeping staff, looking into specialist He will also focus on field consulting line of professional lawn-care products, player positioning system for golf cars. areas of turf care." with growers, assuring quality con- including wide-area mowers and turf- Under the new arrangement, Player trol from the grower to the customer. maintenance equipment. Systems will become John Deere Golf Itronics turns While the company has yet to target Technologies Inc., a new division of CHR. HANSEN NAMES NEW the golf industry in its marketing strat- Deere. All manufacturing, distribution byproduct into gold SOUTHEASTERN MANAGER egy, the company appears to be well posi- and marketing will continue in Player's MILWAUKEE, Wise.—Chr. Hansen tioned to make a move into the market. current Charlestown location. RENO, Nev. — Itronics Inc. an- BioSystems recently appointed Tom MTD's new Pro Line consists of gear Player Systems has 30 employees and nounced that its photobyproduct re- Perkins as regional manager for the drive and dual hydrostatic mowers. Its sales offices in California, Florida, Michi- cycling subsidiary, Itronics Metallur- Southeastern U.S. Perkins will be work- gear-drive models have deck sizes rang- gan and Washington, D.C.. The com- gical, Inc., increased sales of its Gold'n ing with distributors with a focus on ing from 32", 36", 48" to 52". pany also maintains software developers Gro liquid fertilizer products by ap- developing new business in both the MTD's full line for turf includes wide- in Connecticut, New York and Florida. proximately 70 percent in the second quarter of fiscal year 1998 compared Probios and Biomate Brand product area mowers, trimming mowers, blow- The Sky Links system is installed in 30 to total fiscal year 1997 sales. lines. He was most recently vice presi- ers, over-seeders and aerators as well courses across the country at an average dent of sales and marketing at H&N as hand-held power tools, spreaders and cost of $250,000. Player Systems reports Itronics develops a fertilizer in a International, and for many years was sprayers. that it did $5 million in sales last year. proprietary process from used photochemicals. Its technology allows with PMAg Products. the recovery of virtually 100 percent Simplot combines seed/fert. businesses of the silver and other heavy metals in KUBOTA MAKES THREE MOVES used photographic chemicals. ACROSS THE POND BOISE, Idaho—The J.R. Simplot mercial nurseries and general turf. Gold'n Gro is sold to several ma- THAME, Oxfordshire, England — Company has combined its grass seed Doyle Jacklin, president of Jacklin jor lawn-service companies in north- Kubota UK Ltd. has made three new and professional turf and horticultural Seed, assumes the title of president of ern and central California and to appointments within it's Agricultural fertilizer businesses. the newly-formed entity. Wayne Burk more than 25 golf courses in cen- and Grass Machinery division. Jacklin Seed of Post Falls, Idaho, and will continue to manage the BEST op- tral and southern California at Adrian Langmead is appointed as the BEST brand fertilizer business of erations as Senior Vice President and present. Lathrop. Calif., will now operate as service manager at company head- General Manager of Fertilizer Prod- "In January 1998 only two golf Simplot Turf and Horticultural Prod- quarters in Thame; Tom Barnes, 13 ucts, reporting to Jacklin. courses were using our fertilizer. ucts. It will be marketer of seed, fertil- years with Kubota, has been ap- "Our goal is to be a major interna- Currently a number of additional izer and related services to the profes- pointed marketing manager; and tional supplier of products and services golf courses are testing this fertil- sional turf and horticultural market — stepping into Barnes' shoes is David to the turfgrass and horticultural in- izer and we expect sales to con- this includes golf, landscape, sod, com- Continued on page 49 Roberts who has been with the com- Continued on page 48 pany for eight years. GOLF COURSE NEWS .