John Deere and Kraakman want to showcase their craftsmanship and technological lead during the Solheim Cup

ARTICLE

GARDEN AND PARK TECHNOLOGY

Karlijn Raats, Friday 9 January 2026

235 sec

Van Remortele (Kraakman): 'We leave nothing to chance at Bernardus'

During the Solheim Cup, John Deere will deploy a fully electric fleet of machines at Bernardus golf course. With precision, sustainability and top-quality maintenance, the brand wants to demonstrate that it is also ready for the highest level in the Netherlands. Commercial manager Golf & Turf Wim van Remortele of John Deere dealer Kraakman: 'We leave nothing to chance. The machines, the people and the service all have to be in top form.'

The fairways are mown with 6080A E-hybrid reel mowers, equipped with five cutting units and an energy-efficient drive

This year, Bernardus golf course in Cromvoirt hosts the Solheim Cup, the largest women's golf tournament in the world. For greenkeeping and course maintenance, the organisation relies entirely on John Deere machines. From electric walk-behind mowers to hybrid fairway mowers: everything is focused on maximum quality and minimal impact. Kraakman, as the exclusive John Deere dealer, provides intensive support with training, monitoring and a complete back-up fleet of machines.

Fully electric

During the Solheim Cup, Bernardus uses only John Deere machines that have been specifically selected for their mowing quality, precision and reliability. 'On the greens we work with the 225E walk-behind greens mowers, fully electric and designed for the finest cut,' Van Remortele explains. 'For the tees we use the same 225E in a tee configuration, also fully electric. The approaches and surrounds are mown with the new 2775E Triplex reel mower, again fully electric. You can even set it to mow with one, two or three cutting units, depending on the desired mowing pattern. For example, you can work with only the centre unit to replicate the effect of hand mowing. That delivers an extremely tight and consistent finish.'
The fairways are mown with 6080A E-hybrid reel mowers, equipped with five cutting units and an energy-efficient drive. Maintenance work is carried out with the fully electric 1235 bunker rake, and for transport and servicing there are ProGator 2030A E electric utility vehicles on site. 'The choice of these models is deliberate,' Van Remortele continues. 'They combine unrivalled mowing quality with quiet, clean operation. In addition, the power transfer to the wheels is so refined that there is no wheel slip, which is crucial especially on red fescue. Even small differences in drive speed between the front and rear wheels can damage the turf. The 2775E distributes power evenly, eliminating that problem.'

Left Wim van Remortele, right Stefan Schmeitz

Innovation

Via the TechControl display, operators can precisely adjust John Deere mowers, such as cutting frequency, transport speed and turning movements. 'An important advantage is the frequency or clip mode,' explains turf sales manager Stefan Schmeitz. 'This determines how often the reel blades cut the grass. Even if the operator drives faster or slower, the clip rate remains exactly the same. That ensures a consistent mowing pattern, regardless of ground speed. The settings can be matched to the desired green speed.' The weight and balance of the electric Triplex mowers have also been adapted for optimal results. 'Because the machines are extremely light and you can lift the centre cutting unit, there is no tracking in the curvature of the green,' Schmeitz continues. 'The turf remains open and even, without the compaction you used to see with conventional machines.'

The Solheim Cup at Bernardus is not only a showcase for electric mowing, but also the stage for the very first two electric ProGator 2030A E units. 'That is really special,' says Van Remortele. 'John Deere is the first manufacturer to supply these fully electric utility vehicles, with a tipping cargo bed at the rear for materials or maintenance tools. You can also fit them with a sprayer for fertilisation. They are quiet, emission-free and powerful, ideal for use at a tournament of this level.' Although other manufacturers also offer electric machines, he says John Deere stands out because of the overall concept. 'The fact that all machines, from walk-behind mower to bunker rake, are electric and work seamlessly together in one digital system is something our competitors cannot offer.'

Training and preparation

To ensure optimal use of the machines, Kraakman provides extensive training for the entire greenkeeping team at Bernardus. 'All users receive training from our technicians,' Van Remortele explains. 'Normally that is simply called commissioning, but for the Solheim Cup we take it much further. We set the machines up to customer specifications, let the teams practise on the practice greens and then collect feedback to fine-tune things even further. These training sessions already start this winter, so everyone fully masters the machines by the time the tournament begins.' Four weeks before the start of the event, Kraakman's mechanics and specialists will be present daily at Bernardus. 'The intensity increases as the Solheim Cup approaches,' Schmeitz adds. 'We want every mower, rake and ProGator to be in top condition when it really matters.'

'We want every mower, rake and ProGator to be in top condition when it really matters'

Wim van Remortele: 'At both John Deere and Kraakman, a greens mower has the same priority in the workshop as a large combine or forage harvester from a contractor: in the event of a fault, downtime must be kept to a minimum. Yet there is one important difference: the greens mower is in use on the golf course almost seven days a week from 1 March to 1 December, whereas those large contracting machines operate for at most one month a year.'

Shadow fleet and back-up support

During the tournament itself, a complete back-up fleet of machines will be on standby. 'We only do this at the very biggest events,' says Van Remortele. 'For a club tournament it is not necessary, but for something like the Solheim Cup it is. A complete set of machines will be on site, ready to step in immediately if something breaks down. That way we guarantee that maintenance never comes to a standstill, even if something unexpected happens.' In addition, John Deere provides spare parts, technical support and logistical assistance. 'Our technicians are present on site and can act immediately,' Schmeitz adds. 'The whole idea is that not a single second is lost.'

Worldwide experience

John Deere has built a strong global reputation as a partner for major events. Each year the brand even organises its own tournament: the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. And although John Deere has been active worldwide at top golf tournaments for many years, from Pinehurst and TPC Sawgrass to Carnoustie and Gleneagles, the Solheim Cup at Bernardus marks the first time that Kraakman is operating at this level in the Netherlands. 'For us it is extremely exciting,' says Van Remortele. 'Everything has to run perfectly. No oil leaks, no breakdowns, no surprises. We make sure the machines are in top condition, but also that our team is. It is a great opportunity to show what we can do.' Schmeitz concludes: 'For us, as a Dutch dealer, this is a real milestone. It is fantastic to be involved in such an international event and to show that we can deliver at the highest level.'

This article was previously published on 8 January 2026 on the Greenkeeper](https://www.greenkeeper.nl/article/52408/john-deere-en-kraakman-willen-tijdens-solheim-cup-hun-vakmanschap-en-technologische-voorsprong-tonen]Greenkeeper) website.

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