Waiheke Golf Club
Officers of the Club 2024
Club President James Tinnion-Morgan
Vice President Jeff Oakes
Treasurer Kevin Kite
Mens Club Captain Dan Robson
Mens Vice Captain Roger Ramsell
Ladies Club Captain Andrea Cole
Junior Convenor Bob Upchurch
Committee
Sandy Baker, Eric Woodhead, Wayne McIntosh, Neil Toia, Bill Godbout, Ged Gordon, Brendon Agnew
Auckland Golf Delegate Eric Woodhead
Greens staff and golf club member Terry Maguire on the new Evo
Golfers love their clean green machine
Waiheke Golf Club has scored a first for New Zealand by buying the first electric mower to cut rough areas of a course. The new Mean Green Evo cost $80,000 and the club was greatly assisted by an EECA instant rebate.
The club also broke new ground when it purchased a Jacobsen Eclipse 322E electric greens mower in 2019.
When the club needed a new mower this year to mow the rough on the course it made both economic and environmental sense to choose another electric machine club president James Tinnion-Morgan says.
“While the initial cost is more than a diesel mower we’re confident the cost difference will be made up in just three years and will only continue from thereon to benefit the club,” James says. “Its 13-cell lithium battery lasts eight hours which is perfect for our course.”
Waiheke greens keeper Alan Healey is very much in favour of the electric option. “Because electrical vehicles are so simple to run and use, there’s little routine maintenance required for an electrical mower compared with other mowers so that will mean savings for the club,” he says. “The Evo gives an excellent cut and its lithium batteries should last as long as the lifetime of the 20-year lifetime mower. Also staff don’t need to wear ear muffs and don’t have to stop mowing when they’re near golfers because it’s so quiet, it’s not disruptive.”
The new mower is doing a great job despite the very wet conditions this autumn Alan says. “Its smooth action, comfy seat and armrests are extra bonuses for the greens staff,” he says.