11/21/2016 1:11 PM
Michael,
At my previous facility we had Baroness Fairway Units, Bunker Rakes, and walkers(both 22" and 26"). I would caution you strongly to make sure you have the proper support network you need before becoming involved. The equipment may seem easy to work on, however, things are not always what they appear. The reels on the fairway unit weigh about 100lbs a piece, so very much a pain to grind. Speaking of grinding, you will have to buy new hardened stones or you will crack the stock stones because they use hardened steel. The problem we really ran into was there was no one within a reasonable distance that knew how to properly troubleshoot the equipment. We were on a 4 year lease and did not use any of the walkers for the final year+ due to clutch issues and ability to get a desirable putting surface. The other thing to research is what is cost of wear parts. We were paying $200USD for a bedknife for the fwy units, and although they last, if you ding it on a drain basin or rock that is more than 4x the price of other manufacturers. The bunker rake gave a fairly high quality rake, but again maintenance was a bit of a nightmare. I think the equipment can be quality but make sure your distributor is committed and properly trained, not just dipping their toe in the water. And also do a cost analysis because the upkeep got to be pretty expensive, and that was on a lease, I would be afraid to see some long term costs like reel replacements if you are looking at buying.
Kevin Malloy