Hunter Grinders is further expanding its presence in the United States with another installation of its Jupiter ATI precision grinder. The latest club to acquire a Hunter machine is the newly opened Providence Golf Club in Davenport, Fla.
This follows the successful installation early last year of a Jupiter ATI at nearby Grand Cypress Resort. Providence Golf Club decided to proceed with the purchase after consulting with Larry Smith, head mechanic at Grand Cypress, who let Hunters American distributor Frank Eckert Golf Sales, demonstrate using his machine.
Larry was asked what made him choose a grinder relatively unknown in the U.S. after many years of operating with an alternative.
“As an ex Foley research and development specialist, I am more aware than most of the benefits of relief grinding," Smith said. "We have over 500 cylinders to sharpen at Grand Cypress Resort. The Jupiter delivers not just the high quality finish that we expect, but a truer finish which lasts much longer than expected.
"Our fairway mowers now only require a re-grind every five to six months. As each unit is used for approximately 1,000 to 1,300 hours per year that means we can achieve 650 working hours per unit. Even after top dressing or sanding the greens which we do regularly, we still don’t have to re-sharpen the greens mowers for three weeks.
"The Hunter machine is the most robust grinder I have come across. This machine does not move and this is reflected in the consistent accuracy of the grind.”
A presentation of the latest Jupiter ATI and working seminar on the principles of relief grinding was held at Providence Golf Club following the Golf Industry Show, Orlando, in January and attended by head greenkeepers and mechanics from other interested golf clubs in the area. Further presentations are planned for later in the year.
John Madden, course superintendent at Providence Golf Club, hosted the event.
“Our mechanics have been very impressed with the Jupiter ATI and I am delighted to open our doors to other clubs to show how we operate," he says. "Providence’s aim is to be recognised as a club with an 18-hole championship course that meets the highest of standards to attract all levels of ability. We have set ourselves extremely high standards and are prepared to invest in the right equipment to maintain them.”