Better Quality Of Cut, Lighter Frame, Less Compaction

Eldridge agrees, viewing the new DPA cutting units as the product’s most important feature.

“The biggest thing is the new cutting unit, the DPA” he says. “That’s something we’ve been requesting for years, and I think that’s going to really help us to do our jobs better.”

“With the DPA, I think you get a better reel-to-bedknife adjustment,” Eldridge explains. “Out in the field, we’re able to do a better job of adjusting one side instead of having to adjust the entire bedknife.”

Better Quality Of Cut

The DPA cutting units are brand-

new and leverage many innovative and proprietary features that together elevate the overall quality of the Reelmaster mowers. With special suspension and weight balance, the cutting units’ innovative design optimizes ground- following and mowing performance to deliver unbelievable quality of cut on a variety of terrains.

The cutting units are also made with a proprietary reel blade material—another innovation exclusive to Toro.

“By using a harder base metal and an advanced tempering process, the blades hold an edge much longer,” says Ferguson. “The result is reduced adjustments and less frequent backlapping and grinding. That helps to ensure a consistently higher quality of cut because the sharper edge shears the grass blade off cleanly, so grasses stay green and healthy. We even scalloped the reel blades for a built-in relief, which also helps keep the blade sharp.”

A related improvement on the cutting units is a heavy-duty bedknife called EdgeMax™—used exclusively by Toro, which incorporates a harder, leading- edge tool steel to retain its sharp edge up to three times longer than standard bedknives. You can choose from among three cutting units: a 5-inch diameter 8 blade; a 7-inch diameter 8 blade; and a 7-inch diameter 11 blade.

More reliable mowing is further enhanced by the Reelmasters’ specially

designed all-wheel drive system—another innovation that’s new to the industry. The CrossTrax™ drive system is based on Toro’s patented Series/Parallel traction system. This drive system provides superior traction on wet slopes by transferring power from the front tires to the opposite rear tires. That way, if the upslope tire starts to lose traction, the opposing rear tire absorbs more weight to help propel the unit forward and up the hill.

“I think the quality of the cut is great, and it was really quick,” Currier says. With five courses and nearly 300,000 rounds played every year at Bethpage, a high level of productivity is essential for him and his crew. “With all the play we have here at our facility, we need to get in and out as quick as we can without sacrificing quality.”

Lighter Frame, Less

Compaction

With the new Reelmaster machines, Toro also offers another important benefit: a product that’s not only better, but lighter. The mowers weigh up to 280 pounds less than Toro’s older units, and that’s even with the more powerful engines.

“We trimmed unnecessary weight so the mower would have a lighter footprint, but without sacrificing any durability or functionality,” Ferguson says. “That means the new Reelmasters provide the finest fairway cutting with less compaction or turf abrasion.”

Eldridge and Currier viewed this feature as an important benefit.

“Lighter frames are a benefit because any time you get a lighter footprint on the turfgrass surface, you’re doing yourself a big favor,” Eldridge says.

“The lighter the mower is, the less compaction,” Currier says. “For what we’re looking for, the weight is good.”

Many Other Advantages

To provide better after-cut appearance, the Reelmasters accommodate a series of built-in features and optional attachments, including platform

groomers, powered rear roller brushes, collection baskets, cutting-unit combs and more. The mowers can even be configured with Toro’s TurfDefender Leak Detector, a device that identifies hydraulic leaks and then shuts down the cutting system to prevent turf damage.

The new mowers also offer increased operator comfort, providing a deluxe seat suspension, a control panel within closer reach, easier step-entry and exit, tilt steering wheel and reduced noise.

“Comfort-wise, it was great, too,” Currier says. “It’s such a comfortable and smooth machine. When you’re riding around on a golf course all day it’s pretty rough, so the operators are definitely going to enjoy not bouncing up and down all over the place.”

Currier adds: “There’s plenty of room on the machine and it’s easy to use,” said Currier. “It’s also big enough to make sure you have plenty of power.”

“They did a nice job,” concludes Eldridge. “I think Toro has made great strides with these machines.”