'A brush cutter is always needed, just like a shovel or rake' |
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Greenkeeper Marijn Prinsen thought long and hard about which machine to choose for the "People and Machines" section. Ultimately, he chose the brush cutter from Stihl. "It's such an essential and versatile machine. You use it almost every week. Just like a shovel or a rake, a brush cutter is always needed," he says. The brand also played a role in his decision, as Prinsen is a huge fan of Stihl.
At Golf Course Kleiburg in Brielle, the greenkeepers of the Oosthoek Group have access to two Stihl brush cutters: an old gasoline-powered FS 550 and a modern electric FSA 135. Prinsen and his colleague Emiel are the primary users of these machines. "My colleagues know that I enjoy working with them, so I use them the most," says Prinsen, who has been working at this golf course for half a year.
Monster
The greenkeeping profession is not new to him. He previously worked for eight years as a greenkeeper at the Kennemer Golf & Country Club and also completed professional training at HAS. This 45-year-old nature enthusiast, as he describes himself, has spent his entire life working outdoors and in greenery. His interest in the brush cutter began at the end of secondary school. A friend of his, who attended the Green College in Boskoop, told him that he could cut down a large number of trees in a short time using a brush cutter. "I thought it was a monstrous machine, but it turned out to be a relatively small device that you hold and hang from your hip. I found that fascinating."
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"With a trimmer head, you can mow anywhere."
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That fascination has remained. "On a golf course, there are always spots where other mowers can't reach. Think of grass growing around tree trunks, posts, and benches, and here at the golf course, along the long wall that separates the course from the water. With a trimmer head, you can mow anywhere." The brush cutter is versatile because the head can be easily changed. The greenkeepers in Brielle have access to a chisel blade and a three-point blade as attachments. "With the chisel blade, you can chop reeds and blackberry bushes into mulch; with the three-point blade, you can neatly cut reeds and similar vegetation." When he worked as a landscaper, Prinsen also used a circular saw blade on the brush cutter to cut down small trees. "We don't really need that attachment here."
Safety
Prinsen loves that his employer, Oosthoek, invests in modern battery-powered equipment, but he's not ready to give up the "old-fashioned" gasoline-powered brush cutter just yet. "It has much more power, which you sometimes need for tough grass. You can tell that the battery-powered brush cutter still struggles with that." He mentions that battery-powered models are much quieter and lighter—advantages for both golfers and greenkeepers. "The environmental aspect is, of course, also important." He emphasizes that working with a brush cutter requires a strong focus on safety. He always wears gloves, earplugs, and either safety glasses or a helmet with a visor. "It's also important to constantly scan your surroundings. If the trimmer head hits a small stone, it can fly dozens of meters. You definitely don't want anyone to get hit."
Proper Charging
According to Prinsen, there's practically no golf course that can do without a brush cutter. "There's always work that requires one." The stone wall at Kleiburg is several kilometers long, and it takes Prinsen and his colleague Emiel Spruit an entire day to trim the grass there with the brush cutters. "For this job, we need to make sure our three batteries are fully charged. On the lowest setting, they last quite a while, but if you run the machine at full power, they drain faster." The brush cutter batteries are also compatible with the Stihl hedge trimmer and chainsaw, which are also used at Kleiburg.
Stihl Dealer
"This brush cutter is a great example of ease of use. I think Stihl is an amazing brand. The power, the color, the design—it all really appeals to me." From his cooler, he even pulls out Stihl-branded shoelaces. "At home, I have all sorts of things—Stihl-themed toys, socks, workwear, and gadgets." At the Stihl dealer in nearby Vierpolders, he is now a familiar face. A visit to the Stihl museum at the company's headquarters in Germany is likely in his future, he assures. Until then, and even after, he will continue to enjoy working with the brush cutters on the golf course and, of course, all the other orange-colored equipment from his favorite brand.
This article was originally published on February 26, 2025, on the Greenkeeper website.
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