For superintendents and equipment managers focused on results and simplicity, Trimax Mowing Systems in December introduced its Snake S3 tow-behind rough mower.
The Snake S3 is the latest version of the company's Snake line of mowers, and its features are designed to eliminate daily maintenance and enhance ease of use for a more hassle-free rough-mowing experience, the company says.
Described by the company as a rough mower with the capability to perform as a fairway mower, the Snake S3 pairs with compact tractors and features advanced articulation and zero-turn capabilities. The three-deck Snake S3 also is outfitted with a Titan roller bearing system and maintenance-free wheel hubs that together eliminate the need for daily greasing, potentially reducing the cost of ownership.
The mower's heavy duty flanged LazerBladez pivot off sticks and rocks to help prevent blade damage and help maintain quality of cut under challenging and wet conditions. The blades can be sharpened while on the unit. The machine's deck and blade design optimizes airflow through the cutting unit to cleanly cut and distribute clippings.
"It seems that the blades the machine uses create a very fine clipping, so then clippings are then very easily dispersed throughout the grass," said David Dore-Smith, superintendent at Copperleaf Golf Club in Bonita Springs, Florida in a TMS promotional video. "And we've found we don't need to follow behind the Snake with a dedicated blower and another employee to distribute the grass clippings throughout the golf course."
Some of the features of the Snake S3 include:
- Full width rollers minimize scalping in undulating conditions, allowing for mowing over curbsides and bunkers, while leaving a premium striped finish.
- The Trimax Titan roller bearing system is maintenance-free, requiring no regular greasing, and provides excellent retention.
- QuikLIFT enables mowing decks to be raised slightly for traversing paths without the need to disengage the PTO.
- Zero-turn capability allows continuous cutting while turning sharply for maximum productivity.
- Heavy-duty LazerBladez feature fling-tip blades are easier and less expensive to maintain and replace than full-blade beams.
- Automatic belt tensioners eliminate the need for belt adjustments and provide consistent drive to the spindles and blades.
Bryce Gibson, superintendent at Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, Florida, also likes the way the Snake handles clippings and how it helps streamline early morning operations.
"What we like the Trimax," Gibson said in the video, "is how fast it is, how much more fuel efficient it is with the tractor that we have hooked to it and also how quickly the clippings are dispersed so that we're spending less time cleaning up the golf course in front of member play."
With headquarters in Tauranga, New Zealand, Trimax Mowing Systems was founded in 1981 for use in the kiwi fruit industry. More than a decade ago, its product portfolio has expanded to include golf and a wide range of other applications, including sports turf, sod farms, municipal grounds, polo and lawn care markets.