Turf Matters July August 2023

TURF

Enemy of the state?

Don’t forget Sport…

Distributed every two months to sports turf professionals, independent schools, universities, local authorities and buyers of turfcare machinery and products.

The last two months have been a nightmare for many people in certain parts of the country and my heart goes out to everyone dealing with the aftermath of unprecedented flooding and devastating erosion.

The best case scenario for many is months of temporary living. For others, lives will never return to what they were.

While the fate of sports grounds and golf clubs might seem inconsequential in the face of such hardship, we at Turf Matters have a particular empathy with everyone who has seen years of agronomic husbandry literally washed away in the space of a few weeks.

I’m writing this in mid-June and I haven’t seen a drop of rain in my part of the world for what seems like an age. Memories do play tricks, but I don’t think I can remember anything like this, at this time of year, for a while. What worries me is that if we get another mid to late summer like last year we will all be in trouble – particularly in the business of maintaining turf. Yes, we all know that grass is resilient and can go without water for as long as the average camel, but that is still going to put a huge strain on the grass plant.

Editor: Scott MacCallum scott@turfmatters.co.uk

Design/Production Editor: Tim Moat tim@turfmatters.co.uk

Distributed every two months to sports turf professionals, local authorities and buyers of turfcare machinery and products.

Sales Executive: Marie Anderson marie@turfmatters.co.uk

Editor: Scott MacCallum scott@turfmatters.co.uk

Design and Production Editor: Tim Moat tim@turfmatters.co.uk

Sales Manager: Pauline Thompson

Contributor: Summer Rogers

It must be hoped that banks – the financial institutions, not the things which edge overflown rivers – take an understanding approach to sporting facilities which have been unable to service loans as a result of them being unplayable and so unable to bring in revenue.

And let’s face it we know, at times like these, the spotlight falls on our industry and anywhere with a sprinkler operating, even if the water used has been harvested sustainably by the user, will be seen as an enemy of the state.

Huge advances have been made in water management, as it will have to, going forward and coupled with the seed producers coming up with ever more effective drought tolerance varieties we will get there. However, public perception is going to have to change, not just in being anti every golf course sprinkler system, but in thinking that every golf course or park has to have lush green grass to be seen as well maintained.

As we have seen with the recent Winter Olympics, sport has such a galvanising effect on society and can be the catalyst for so much good, that it is imperative sporting facilities are not forgotten when the promised assistance is being allocated.

On the issue of improving sporting facilities, we have been invited by Briggs & Stratton to become involved in its Pitch to Win competition, which provides a £3,000 makeover for what is judged to be the Under 18s football pitch in most need – find out more on pages 16-17. I am on the judging panel and visits will be made to a shortlist of deserving pitches soon. We will be looking not so much at the DESSO but the desperate!

On a final note, I am thrilled by the reception that the first issue of Turf Matters received. Many people have taken time to say how much they liked the look of the magazine and how they enjoyed the articles. We’re all pleased you found it to your liking and we will work hard to maintain the high standards. Thank you all very much.

Turf professionals are intelligent enough to maintain surfaces in whatever circumstance they find themselves, and sometimes that might be in severe drought conditions, so let them make the sensible decisions to cut back water usage, in the knowledge that whenever they do use irrigation it will be in a responsible manner.

Scott MacCallum, Editor

Scott MacCallum, Editor

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All material © Turf Matters magazine 2023.

Turf Matters is published by Straight Down the Middle Communications Ltd.

Awarded Best Writing and Best Design in the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) Awards 2019-2022 inclusive

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No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, either for sale or not, without the written permission of the publisher. Information contained in Turf Matters is published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Turf Matters can accept no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by reliance on information contained in Turf Matters or in the event of any bankruptcy or liquidation or cessation of trade of any company, individual or firm mentioned is hereby excluded. Printed by Warners Midlands PLC.

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The majesty of Gleneagles, pages 30-35

Cover picture courtesy of James Bledge

PROGRAMME IS TOP OF THE CLASS

More than a decade on from the switch to an organic feeding programme, the grounds team at Farleigh School in Hampshire are receiving more praise than ever before.

Staff, parents and pupils alike have cited how surfaces across the 70-acre site are providing consistent presentation and performance, despite the challenging climatic conditions, which Grounds Manager and Sports Coach Shaun Crowley attributes to the reliable results from 18-1-8+Fe and 5-2-4+Fe from Suståne.

“While we weren’t initially pressured to explore the organic route, it was something my predecessor and I were keen on – not just for the environmental benefits but considering the safety element for the children and the flexibility it provided on application rates. We have a packed schedule both during and between term-times so getting feed down without pupils around was challenging” explained Shaun, Sports Coach at Farleigh since 2011 and took over the role of Grounds Manager three years ago.

The launch of a new generation of Airter

After more than three years of development, Novokraft AG is launching two completely redesigned Airter models.

The novelties are equipped with less vulnerable sensors and a solid technology. The new models are twice as fast and only half as heavy as their predecessors. The new Airter Neo clears a football field in about four hours, without the need to change lances. (-8cm to -20cm depth quickly and easily without changing, adjustable directly on the machine).

The Airter Neo is attached to the tractor’s three-point linkage and runs continuously. It is suitable for large areas such as football fields.

The machine is an asset for all contractors and municipalities. The Neo is also suitable for large greens that are modelled.

The whole carriage can be quickly adjusted to any

terrain from 0 to + 4cm height. In addition, all air cylinders can be set for resistance, i.e. the lance stops automatically when a stone is in the working area. This was not possible in the past with the oil hydraulic cylinder.

The Airter trike runs discontinuously with electric drive and batteries (stop-and-go system).

The compressor is driven by a petrol engine. The trike 8140 is more suitable for uneven and inaccessible

greens. It is therefore the ideal machine for all golf course operators. However, the Airter® trike is also ideally suited for sensitive stadium turf.

From winter 2023/2024, the autonomous airter trike 8140 A will be launched on the market and will automate maintenance in the stadium or on the golf greens. The world’s first autonomous deep loosening with compressed air!

MADE FOR EVERY SLOPE: ZERO TURNS FROM CUB CADET

The Cub Cadet range means that both professionals and business owner alike can find their ideal zero-turn machine; whether they are looking for a serious bit of kit to mow steep slopes or to mow their customers large lawns… Cub Cadet have got you covered this year and every year going forward.

You can book a demo at www. cubcadet.co.uk/book-a-demo

The top of the range Z9 183id zero-turn, fulfils all commercial requirements.

With extremely wide double wheels, the Z9 has been developed to tackle effortlessly even the steepest slopes up to 25° / 46%.

The ability to control all four wheels with a steering wheel and steerable front wheels, an exclusive offering by

Cub Cadet in the commercial sector, minimises the turf being churned up by the wheels or crabbing on banks. The patented Synchro Steer technology means that even the less experienced operators can benefit from the ease of use and amazing manoeuvrability of this machine.

The Z9 provides greater hillside stability and enhanced traction on uneven terrain as well as mowing in straighter lines.

It powers through the thickest grass in one pass at maximum speeds of up to 12mph meaning you can do the job quicker. The high lift Marbain blades with a blade tip speed up to 18,500 fpm and the 3” total blade overlap will ensure that you always get a tight consistent cut. The frame and axle on the Z9 floats as the machine moves, allowing the multi-reinforced steel deck to follow the shape of the terrain and avoid scalping. The cutting deck can be adjusted at the touch of a button.

The Kawasaki EFI engine provides the consistent power to get the job done and maximise the work-day – reducing the downtime which could cost you both time and money. The petrol engine benefits from having reduced fuel usage,

while the 2 x 34 litre tanks gives the ability to operate all day.

Comfort is at the forefront of the machine’s design. Operators can experience a smooth ride all day long thanks to the exclusive air-ride seat and isolated dampening system on the Z9 – meaning they are working in vibration-controlled comfort, lessening downtime for your business. Angled back adjustments, padded armrest and lumbar support give added protection.

Ideal for commercial users, the Z9 has everything you would expect from a quality professional machine - ultimate performance, comfort and durability that delivers a fast, premium cut time and time again. There is also benefit from a warranty of three year or up to 1000 hours.

Key considerations for synthetic surfaces

While there may be an element of scepticism around synthetic surfaces, the installation of an artificial turf pitch (ATP) can, for many, provide allimportant relief to an over-stretched natural pitch, particularly during the winter months or periods of heavy play. While both natural and artificial surfaces have their own pros and cons, the addition of an ATP should be seen as complementary and an asset, not a burden. Redexim UK explain that it can sometimes be as simple as understanding how to effectively look after the surface to obtain maximum return on the investment.

An ATP is a carpet and always will be a carpet and when it is first laid on day one, it is as good as it will ever be. However, there are standards which need to be achieved and maintained for safety, longevity and governing body accreditations.

It is now understood that a synthetic pitch does have maintenance requirements, and

whilst this needn’t be complex or costly it does need to be consistent and effective whether the surface be sand-dressed, sand-filled or 3G. Footfall will compact infill and flatten the fibres, leading to a firmer playing surface, with reduced porosity and increased vulnerability to wear and breakage. To alleviate this, the most effective operation is brushing to agitate infill and stand fibres up. The general rule when using something like the Redexim Verti-Comb or Verti-Broom is one hour of brushing for every ten hours of play. But remember, if a surface is accommodating more simultaneous matches and therefore subject to more pairs of feet, the calculation should be altered accordingly.

When it comes to surface cleaning, again a little and often approach is most effective. Most material on the surface is natural debris and detritus, which if left can get trodden on and broken down into the surface. This

will then migrate downwards causing drainage problems but machines like the Redexim Verti-Top™ have proved invaluable to correct this.

The understanding of the health and environmental issues associated with 3G pitches, in particular microplastics and polymeric infill, is driving the industry towards a different specification of surface – with lower pile height and a combination of sand and natural infill such as cork and pine expected to become the industry standard over the next decade. Fields with natural infill will need more attention than conventional SBR pitches due to their more mobile nature, and increased susceptibility to bacterial and airborne contamination. This will likely mean that equipment such as the VertiTop™ which was once considered a more specialist tool, will become a weekly usage item as grounds staff work more intensely to maintain performance and player safety.

Idverde deliver vision for visual impact

The installation of a wildflower meadow in a recreational and memorial ground has been cited as the ‘highlight of the year’ in a report summarising the work undertaken for Stratfordon-Avon District Council by contractors Idverde in 2022.

Euroflor Rainbow

Annuals supplied by Origin Amenity Solution (OAS) was selected to deliver a burst of vibrant colour and the results didn’t disappoint.

Idverde is Europe’s leading provider of grounds maintenance services and landscape creation projects.

“The council approached me to see how we could increase visual impact and

biodiversity to an area of recreational land, making the space more welcoming for people and wildlife to enjoy,” explained Idverde Contracts Manager Alex Colbourne.

“While we had worked with OAS before, we hadn’t had seed from them, so I spoke to our Area Sales

Manager Andria Backhaus who took some soil samples and provided us with some excellent advice. With her experience, we prepared the area ready to sow the Rainbow mix at the end of April.”

Assisting Andria, Alex and the team of operatives with the sowing of the Euroflor

was Howard Wood who, with over 40 years of experience in installing meadow lands across Europe, was well placed to provide a plan to achieve maximum results.

“We followed their advice and started to see growth in approximately three weeks, and in six weeks we were in full bloom. I think it’s fair to say the results exceeded everybody’s expectations. We had an array of flowering species, bright and bold colours and the comments we received from the public was amazing,” said Alex.

Euroflor Rainbow Annuals from OAS is a popular choice for those looking for rapid establishment and a long flowering period.

BAGMA hub launched at GroundsFest

BAGMA will be launching the new BAGMA Dealer Hub at GroundsFest, which is taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 20 – 21 September.

BAGMA has been representing independent garden and agricultural machinery dealers in the UK for over 100 years. In an ever-changing business world, the association plays a vital role in supporting the UK dealer network, and this support will be showcased through the new BAGMA Dealer Hub at GroundsFest.

The Hub will be an opportunity for dealers,

both BAGMA members and non-members, to gain industry insight, discuss relevant topics, receive support and advice, and answer any queries about membership, benefits, and training.

“We’re really excited to have the opportunity to be exhibiting at this new event. BAGMA having a presence at industry events is important for us as we are the association for the industry and represent dealers across groundscare, turfcare and agriculture,” said Nick Darking, BAGMA General Manager.

“The BAGMA Dealer Hub

consists of our partner services who are available to talk to visitors about how they can make your business more effective, and we will also have BAGMA trainers on hand doing demonstrations and talking to everyone about training. This is an opportunity to come and see what BAGMA is, what we do and how we can benefit you, your business, and the industry.”

GroundsFest’s Event Director, Christopher Bassett said that they were delighted that BAGMA has chosen GroundsFest to launch the exciting BAGMA Dealer Hub.

“Dealerships are integral to the UK groundscare industry, and we are anticipating that many will attend GroundsFest in September. There will be plenty on offer at GroundsFest to interest dealers and the BAGMA Dealer Hub will further strengthen this.”

Aside from the all the opportunities available on the BAGMA Dealer Hub, the association will also have its famous Brew & Biscuit stand, so ensure that a visit to the BAGMA Dealer Hub is on your GroundsFest agenda.

n www.groundsfest.com

Tillers Turf and Fineturf fleet expand

Whether it’s through the delivery of expert construction and renovation services, or the supply of 26 different varieties of turf, the combination of Fineturf and Tillers Turf have proudly worked with a huge number of the UK’s leading sporting venues –and at the heart of nearly every operation is a Kubota.

Following the delivery of six more Kubota units to their fleet, Managing Director Simon Hutton explains how it’s the reliability of the brand that keeps them coming back for more, having not let them down on a job in over 28 years.

Working for high profile clients across the sporting sector comes with high expectations and means that for Simon and the team, reliability is key when it comes to specifying new equipment.

“The oldest tractor we have is a Kubota L4630 which is 18 years old, with close to 11,500 hours on it and continues to give us what we need day in, day out” explained Simon.

“The simplicity of operation, consistency in performance and value for money we get from the brand is unparalleled.”

Among the recent delivery were two L2522 tractors from Kubota’s popular L2 series of cabbed, compact tractors –taking Simon’s total tally of

L-Series machines up to the mid-twenties! “These are the workhorses on our contracting division” he explains. “We’ll have at least one on most jobs, and they’ll remain on site for the duration of the contract whether that’s one day or six months.

“The operators love the durability of the L2’s, they work long hours and stand up to every task. Because they’re not ‘over-computerised’ we can also conduct all of the servicing and maintenance ourselves and, if something does go astray while we’re on a job, nine times out of ten the team can resolve it quickly and easily to get the work complete.”

While the L2522’s are additions to meet with demand, the new Kubota M6111 and M4073 are replacing another brand and join an M6002 series already in use on the Tillers Turf operation. “We use these tractors at every stage of turf production on our 2200 acres – from getting the seed in the ground to getting the turf onto the pallets and out to the customers.”

“Where we are now and with the scale of the operation, I honestly believe that without the level of service we get from our equipment and the fabulous people at Kubota, we wouldn’t be in business.”

TinyLineMarkers at the double

Recent rapid expansions have seen major investments for Hounslowbased contractors PGSD – the most recent of which is a second TinyLineMarker from Origin Amenity Solutions. So impressed with the accuracy and labour savings brought about by their original TinyLineMarker Pro, a Pro X has joined the fleet to deliver efficient marking to schools and sports turf customers across the home counties.

“Due to the growth in business, we were finding that marking surfaces manually was becoming problematic in terms of both time and labour” explained Managing Director Mark Hooley.

“Sports facilities and schools tend to work to extremely tight changeover timeframes and so, to meet requirements, we looked to technology to help.” Mark and the team researched the market extensively and found the TLM Pro to be extremely effective during trials.

“We wanted something that was straight forward to operate and that would give us the precision we need when installing these lines. The TLM Pro met all of our requirements, and upon delivery in the spring of 2022, proved to be absolutely outstanding!”

The TLM Pro was shared between teams based in London and Hertfordshire before being joined by a new TinyLineMarker Pro X in April, giving the two PGSD schools’ teams their own marker for an even more efficient service.

“Our operatives were blown away by the intuitiveness of the Pro but the Pro X is next level! The tablet has been upgraded and there are even more settings and stored markings – all easier to find and use. There is also a wealth of new features, simple things like the ability to manually flush out the system after marking which is a great addition.”

Robust and versatile, the TLM Pro X is the new fast and effective

solution to marking – offering a 10L paint capacity and high traction, pro wheels making it suited to even the most demanding field painting jobs.

“Our two TLM’s have been out most days as we prepare sports grounds for the summer season. With the software, we can programme and mark out a 400m running track in 90 minutes compared to two operators spending a full day using string and tape measures… and with better accuracy! “We’re delivering a superior product to our clients and, when combined with the simplicity of use and labour savings, makes the investment essentially cost-neutral.” Mark adds, “There is also plenty of support from Simon Hughes at OAS who has helped us at every stage of the process.”

Free demonstrations are being offered across the UK. To book or enquire visit https:// tinymobilerobots.com/ tinymobilerobots-uk/

From Yard Man to Managing Director

When Ian Ellis started stacking shelves in the GreenTek workshop in 2000, little did he know that 23 years later he’d be driving the business forward at the helm as Managing Director. And now with expansion into new overseas markets, and new product developments underway, he’s certainly got exciting aspirations for the company’s future.

“We’re aiming to double our turnover in the next six years, we’re expanding into new markets including the US, and have some exciting new products in development,” revealed Ian, who started his career in the interior landscape business supplying plants to offices.

But while looking ahead to the future, Ian never forgets his roots within the business.

“I joined the company in 2000 as a yard man and spent most of my time loading and unloading forklift trucks and stacking pallets in the workshop. I remember the whole site was on a slope which made stacking shelves in any sort of order quite a challenge!”

At the time, the company was based at Manor Farm in Leeds and had been gradually evolving since 1969 from a lawnmower parts and repair business, sharpening mower blades for domestic customers to rebuilding and reconditioning commercial grass cutting machines.

As the domestic market began to slow down, GreenTek focussed on

the commercial side of the business and identified an opportunity to supply turf care equipment to the golf market. Securing a deal as the exclusive distributor of ThatchAway greens mower cassettes – a move which has established the company’s leading position in the marketplace today catering to the needs of professional greenkeepers.

In fact, 90% of the UK’s top golf courses have GreenTek equipment in their tool shed – and a recent deal with Royal Liverpool Golf Club to supply equipment to prepare for the 151st Open Championship this summer is the latest endorsement of the quality of GreenTek’s machinery.

As the company expanded into the golfing market, this created an opportunity for Ian to get out of the workshop and meet customers for product demonstrations.

“At first, this was completely out of my comfort zone but very quickly I realised that I had an aptitude to operate any type of machine and enjoyed being at the ‘coal face’ meeting customers, demonstrating our innovative equipment and answering questions.”

The launch of the Dynamics range of mower attachments was an intensive period of travel up and down the country for Ian.

“One day I’d be in Scotland, the next I could be down on the south coast. I’d never seen so many golf courses in such a short space of time and there’s no question someone might want to ask about Dynamics that I can’t answer.”

Rather than just knowing what the machine could do, Ian would

actually show the customer with a real time demo on their course. Which wasn’t without risk when you’re operating on some of the most prestigious courses in the world.

In 2012, Ian became a shareholder within the business and soon afterwards was promoted to the position of Operations Manager and started looking for new premises for the expanding business. Now based at the 3.5 acre site in Walton near Leeds with 31,000 sq ft of onsite warehouse storage, GreenTek can respond to customer orders quickly and deliver from stock.

A major challenge came in 2020 with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this eventually led to a growth in the golfing industry.

“We wondered what would happen at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, but when golf courses were able to reopen there was a renewed interest from greenkeepers and we’ve seen that year-on-year since then. There’s been an increased demand for revolutionary solutions that save time and deliver outstanding results with minimal disruption to players. And that’s something we excel at.”

This is exactly the type of equipment RLGC have chosen in preparation for this year’s Open Championship. The DynaSeeder and Dyna-Corer machines drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to overseed and micro-core greens with minimal distribution to play. The whole seeding operation on 18 greens can be completed in just a few hours.

And when it comes to outstanding

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY JOB, WHICH HAS GIVEN ME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND MY PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE AND SHARE THIS WITH CUSTOMERS THROUGH FACE-TO-FACE PRODUCT DEMONSTRATIONS.

results, the Micro-Groomer is the latest in sward refinement with over 2,000 extra fine tungsten tips working the upper leaf area for the precision groomed surface that professional players expect.

“We’re extremely proud to have been chosen by Royal Liverpool Golf Club in this way. It’s a very important year for the club hosting the Open Championship and the fact that they’ve come to us is a clear endorsement of the quality of our machinery and the trust they can place in us to deliver.”

James Bledge, Links Manager at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, added that he had used GreenTek products over the years and have always been extremely impressed with the results.

“When looking for a supplier who could help create perfect greens in the run up to such an important and prestigious event as the Open Championship, GreenTek was an obvious choice.”

So, what changes has Ian seen during his years in the industry?

“I believe greenkeepers have become a lot more analytical.

Previously, they carried out tasks at particular times of the year because it was the thing to do, but now they stop and ask themselves why they’re doing things, what are they achieving, and is there a better way of doing things?”

“From a purchasing point of view, there are a lot more challenges. Uncertainty over costs and supply of raw materials disrupts the supply chain and means customers can’t budget with as much certainty as they could in the past.”

In response to these changes

GreenTek unveiled its latest product earlier this year - the Mega-Mix fertiliser mixing station. This revolutionary new product provides a fast, economical way for greenkeepers to mix their own feed.

With the rising cost of liquid concentrate, mixing feed from soluble straights can be up to 90% cheaper and 90% less time consuming with the Mega-Mix. It avoids any messy straining and additional dilution and mixes up to 1200 litres in the tank, using only cold water. The high-capacity

pump transfers the solution through the filter unit and into the sprayer in just minutes.

“We’re delighted to bring this revolutionary product to the market. The Mega-Mix is clear proof of our ongoing commitment to recognising greenkeepers’ needs and providing them with innovative solutions to enhance the quality of their courses.”

Talking to Ian leaves you in no doubt about his passion for the job at GreenTek, “I absolutely love my job, which has given me great opportunities to expand my product knowledge and share this with customers through face-to-face product demonstrations.

“I’m extremely honoured and privileged to be offered the position of managing director and look forward to continuing to build on the legacy of innovation at GreenTek to grow the company in the future.

“We’ve got exciting plans for new product development – both enhancements to existing machinery and completely new products –and we’re looking forward to expanding into new markets.”

Club can’t get enough of SISIS Quadraplay

The football pitches at Prees Cricket and Recreation Club in Shropshire have significantly benefitted from a SISIS Quadraplay, according to Head Groundsman Duncan Austin. With a multitude of football teams ranging from under 8s up to seniors, both men and ladies, it is safe to say that the three football pitches are heavily used. Aside from the three football pitches, Duncan also maintains two artificial football pitches, a cricket square and two bowling greens, so anything that makes his life easier is a huge benefit.

It is for this reason that Duncan and the Club decided to explore the possibility of obtaining an equipment grant through the Football Foundation.

“We conducted a big pitch assessment, took photos, root depth measurements and provided the Football Foundation with lots of other information. We were over the moon when we found out we had been accepted for the grant. One of the machines they recommended was the SISIS Quadraplay.”

The multi-functional system is perfect for busy groundspersons like Duncan as it incorporates a mounted frame for up to four implements such as grooming rakes, spikers, slitters, rollers and brushes. The implements can be fitted to the mainframe in any order and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect. Compact, robust, versatile and with the ability to carry out up to four operations simultaneously

- the Quadraplay makes life a lot easier for many groundspersons.

“I use it all the time and whenever I do, I know that the Quadraplay is improving the ground in some form,” he said. “It is great to use after games because it can help bring the surface back to life and it puts all the divots back in place.

“The grass gets trodden down after a game and that doesn’t do the leaf any good so the Quadraplay can stand the plant up to help it dry out and you have the spike at the front which gets rid of any surface moisture. Therefore, the surface dries out quicker and is healthier for the plant.

“You just can’t overuse something like this in my opinion.”

n www.sisis.com

Hybrid pitch is best of both worlds

POWERgrass is an innovative system in natural grass and synthetic turf, certified by 5 international patents. It offers a safe pitch at professional level with a positive environmental impact and can amortise the cost over 20 years with constant but reduced maintenance. The system is focused on circular economy applied to sports pitches that considers the entire life cycle of the facility.

The POWERgrass system offers a hybrid pitch that combines the advantages of natural grass and the durability of synthetic turf, offering greater stability, traction and softness. The hybrid grass system allows many more hours of play on natural grass than any other system, for many more years of play because it has no expiration date. The system is made of silica sand and is always playable, with or without natural grass, because it has a higher fibre density than other hybrids, so you never miss a game.

The Green maintenance method of the hybrid system is developed on the teachings of regenerative agriculture, which is based on ecological plant nutrition to respect the natural balance between plants and microorganisms. The method has repeatedly proven to increase yields, improve plant resilience and crop quality, and reduce/eliminate the need for chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides.

Regenerative agriculture is recognised to have a significant

impact on the environment and, in fact, the POWERgrass hybrid system significantly influences all 6 objectives of the above-mentioned norm, which is part of the obligations of sustainable projects namely:

• Mitigation of climate change

• Climate change adaptation

• Sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources

• Transition towards a circular economy

• Pollution prevention and reduction

• Protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems. More than 30 installations realised since the launch of the system in 2012 are proof of the effectiveness of intensive use at low maintenance costs.

The positive experience of playing on hybrid grass installed in stadiums over the past decades and the results achieved in Malta convinced the President that the next World Cup will be held on hybrid pitches.

Finding ways for turf to grow better

The desire to improve soil has been the aim of farmers going back thousands of years with evidence of everyone from the early Egyptians onwards searching for ways to making their crops grow better.

In those days it was manure that has was applied and while that would now appear to be a fairly basic raw product it was a sign that the science of plant nutrition was in its infancy.

Indeed manure held its own as the “product” for centuries and English entrepreneur, John Bennet Laws, patented a manure which he’d formed by treating phosphates and sulfuric acid in 1842 – thank you Wikipedia – which was the first case of an artificially-created product.

The development of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in the early 1900s has been phenomenal with over half the earth’s population being fed as a result of synthetic nitrogen fertiilser. The use of phosphate increased from nine million tonnes per year in 1960 to 40 million tonnes per year in 2000.

Billions have been, and continue to be, spent on research and development ensuring that the maximum impact is derived from the minimum input with the protection of the plant at the forefront of thinking. It is the work of those men and women in white coats which will ensure that whatever challenges are thrown at them by the climate or in the shape of new regulations, we will have tools to maintain our sports surfaces.

Seminar allows sharing of problems and solutions

Over 60 grounds professionals attended Agrovista Amenity’s The Future of Football Estate Management seminar, which was held at St George’s Park – the home of England’s national football teams.

Agrovista Amenity is committed to offering training and development and this insightful seminar focussed on the future of football estate management. Content included discussions on legislation, environmental pressures, fertiliser coating technology and nutrition, and ecology management.

The company joined forces with DLF, ICL, Campey Turf Care, and BASF to ensure the seminar programme featured a variety of expert speakers.

Andy Gray, Head of Grounds and Estates at St George’s Park, was delighted to host the seminar and stressed the importance of industry events.

“Covid stopped events like this for a while, and it isn’t until they do stop that you realise how much you miss them,” he said.

Danny Stunt, Head of Grounds at Tonbridge School in Kent, was one of many delegates who benefitted from attending the seminar.

“To visit St George’s Park was amazing and the event has given me something to aspire to. Not only that, but it has showed me how to get there. This has been the best place to come to help further my career.

“We are very invested in ecology and sustainability so to

find out more about that was fantastic. I will be going away and introducing wildflowers to certain areas at the school, and I will be putting lots of things I have learnt today into practice.”

Joe Berry, Head Groundsman at Bristol City FC’s training ground, was particularly interested in finding out more about BASF’s Attraxor plant growth regulator.

“I am planning on using this product soon, so to see the presentation on that was very helpful. It has given me the confidence to go and use it during the grow-in period – which is what I was hoping to achieve by attending today.

“Events like this are very important to not only experience new products but also to speak to people in the industry and pick their brains about what they might be doing on their sites at different times of the year. The more we talk to one another the more we learn from one another.”

Pete Ashworth, Head Groundsman

for Preston North End FC agreed.

“It has been brilliant to come to this stunning venue to see old and new friends – it is great to share stories with one another and catch up. Sometimes you get stuck in a rut with products and other things, so it is good to get out and learn about new technologies. Going around the pitches at St George’s Park and seeing what Andy and the team do here has helped me to pick up a few new ideas.”

Reflecting on the seminar, Dan Hughes, Agrovista Amenity’s Head of Commercial, said that It was really important for us to bring experts and expertise together.

“When you put professional turf managers together, they start sharing their problems and solutions; and at Agrovista, it is core to our ethos to facilitate that. I hope that today has inspired ideas to focus on, and the future challenges we will be presented with. A huge thank you to everyone that attended.”

n www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

Marathon ALGAE confirms its effectiveness

Thanks to its hybrid formula and patented technology, Marathon ALGAE fertiliser provides perfect, long-term turf nutrition, without the drawbacks of mineral or organic fertilisers.

There are many specialities available to greenkeepers to fertilise their turf: mineral fertilisers, organic fertilisers, coated, foliar, etc. While each of these formulas has its advantages, they also have their limitations. For most of them, their weak action on the biological activity of the soil leads to an excessive accumulation of organic matter, favouring the appearance of thatch and fungal diseases. It was with this in mind that Olmix developed the Marathon ALGAE range, combining the benefits of balanced, long-lasting turf nutrition with significant action on soil microbial activity.

Thanks to its XSER complexation technology, Marathon ALGAE organomineral fertiliser shows nitrogen release kinetics over four months equivalent

to those obtained with slow-release formulations containing isobutylidene diurea (IBDU) or methylene urea.

This feature of Marathon ALGAE fertiliser means that it can be used to feed turf over the long term, with a technology that has a better environmental profile than chemical formulas.

As the nitrogen is released slowly, it does not cause the grass to grow too quickly, necessitating frequent mowing. The risk of loss through leaching is reduced, as is the risk of scorch to foliage and roots.

Studies carried out in partnership with the University of Hohenheim in Germany have highlighted the increase in root biomass with Marathon ALGAE compared with a nitrate-based control fertiliser: 50% + after 100 days.

One of the factors causing deterioration in the quality of turf is the accumulation of dead organic matter from mown grass clippings. To prevent this build-up, it is

necessary to stimulate the soil’s microbial activity so that it can break down this organic matter quickly.

At Amersfoort in the Netherlands, three years’ monitoring of two sports fields fertilised with Marathon ALGAE demonstrated the effect of fertiliser on accelerating the decomposition of organic matter.

The choice of fertiliser to use is crucial, as it determines the turf’s growth, its quality and its resistance to trampling and shearing. Marathon® ALGAE organo-mineral fertiliser and its patented XSER® technology combine the benefits of a slow-release fertiliser for gradual, long-lasting action, with the stimulation of the soil’s biological activity essential for maintaining conditions conducive to development of quality turf.

n sales@collier-turf-care.co.uk

Marathon ALGAE, left and nitrate-based control fertiliser

Cooper Pegler co-sponsors first Lantra Excellence Awards

Leading professional knapsack sprayer brand Cooper Pegler put their name behind the first Lantra Excellence Awards, held at the awarding body’s Stoneleigh Park headquarters.

Co-sponsors and Lantra partners Cooper Pegler and Ego Power Tools funded winners’ trophies and prizes presented to recognise and celebrate the “hard work and dedication of Lantra’s Instructor and Assessor network”.

Winner categories included 4x4 tractor; lift truck; pesticides; pest control; health & safety; groundbased chainsaw; tree inspection; aerial arboriculture; plant and machinery and landscape tools.

Categories also recognised outstanding contribution, best newcomer and longestserving instructor.

“It was a privilege to co-sponsor the first Lantra Excellence Awards,” said Allan Wainwright, Sales Manager for Commercial Sprayers at Hozelock-Exel.

Allan, who is responsible for Cooper Pegler, Berthoud and Laser Industrie professional sprayer sales, said that the Awards were a great event to recognise the

skills, expertise and experience of instructors and assessors from across the land-based industries.

“The success of the event makes me confident the Excellence Awards will develop into a major date in the sector calendar,” Allan added High spec knapsack and pressure sprayers continue to play a key part in professional grounds care, delivering plant nutrient and protection products. Contractors and operators use thousands of units every day - many of those Cooper Pegler and Berthoud units.

As manufacturers of the longestablished and respected brands, Hozelock-Exel has formed a strong working alliance with Lantra.

Allan provided technical content for the pioneering

Knapsack Maintenance half-day course, https://www.lantra.co.uk/ product/35514, Lantra launched earlier this year - part of a commitment to raise awareness about sprayer functionality and the importance of proper upkeep in helping lengthen their lifetime.

“With sound maintenance, knapsacks can enjoy a long and trouble-free life, saving money, helping reduce plastics use and generally making operators’ life a little bit easier,” Allan says.

Also, Cooper Pegler and Berthoud cutaway knapsacks are proving a valuable training tool - some who attended the Excellence Awards already include them in their courses.

“That’s a really positive outcome as the sector evolves,” Allan states. “Knowledge of how sprayers work allows end users to understand that they are a serviceable tool, not an opportunity for functional failure.

“Working with forward-thinking organisations such as Lantra is all part of the process to help strengthen the role of knapsacks as invaluable aids - products that do their job day in, day out, across so many sectors.” n www.cooper-pegler.com

Team Sprayers’ Demount Pro is spot on

The Demount Pro is one of Team Sprayers’ best selling ground care sprayers, for good reason. The short and compact design of the Demount Pro makes it easier to spray difficult areas and is available with manual, electric folding or covered boom systems, all with break back pivot points to protect the booms

from accidental damage from unseen obstacles. It also features a flattened tank (in sizes 400l to 800l); offering total vision across the back of the machine.

The Demount Pro is available with either the standard ‘ARAG Bravo 180S Auto-rate Control System’ or the Bravo 400S GPS system with GPS area mapping and individual nozzle control. This level of control eliminates overlapping and treats only the specified areas according to the mapping. Both systems accurately calculate the remaining distance and area that can be sprayed with the current tank content and crucially, automatically adjusts the amount of applied product according to the forward speed of the utility vehicle, therefore optimising efficiencies, saving time and reducing chemical costs.

Team’s Managing Director Danny Hubbard said that they had seen a rise in demand for the Demount Pro with

the ARAG Bravo Auto-rate Control Systems; as greenkeepers prioritise precision application due to the results placement accuracy brings.

“It is available in a wide choice of specifications and can be built to fit a range of utility vehicles including: the Jacobsen Truckster XD, Cushman Truck, Toro Workman and John Deer ProGator, making it a highly versatile sprayer.”

West Herts Golf Club commented on their Demount Pro purchase and that had eliminated extra early starts and someone having to stay late in order to complete the work.

“Not only can we schedule the work and control costs better, but also minimise disruption for the golfers. We operate on a full tank on the fairways but half a tank on the greens to avoid compaction. And with the covered boom we can even spray when the wind is gusting up to 40mph.”

Ryan Golding, Head Groundsperson for Leeds Rhinos, claims that a range of ICL products has helped the club to successfully navigate the busiest year on record.

He may have been at the club for nearly two decades, but Ryan has just witnessed the busiest ever year, in terms of pitch usage, at Headingley Stadium. In addition to the multitude of standard games and events, Headingley was also the most used pitch at the Rugby League World Cup last year.

With such heavy usage, Ryan explained how he and his three members of staff quite often have to go against the agronomical rule book and push the boundaries.

“We are one of the most highly used surfaces in professional sport and so we have to do things a little differently at times,” he said.

“For example, we may need to apply a conventional fertiliser just before the snow comes because we need cover. There will also be times when we need to apply products in what might normally be considered to be less than ideal conditions. Unfortunately, with the time scales involved, we have to complete tasks whenever we can.”

Ryan knows that using the correct products is key to success.

ICL helps Rhinos’ busiest year

“The response, quality, longevity, and variety of ICL products has allowed us to push our usage and quality of surface, as well as allowing us flexibility in the types of events that we can host.”

Ryan loosely follows an ICL integrated turf management programme but due to the unique situation at Headingley, he takes a somewhat relative approach as to when he applies products.

He pin-pointed three ICL products which have made a significant impact:

“ProTurf 15-5-15 (a controlled release fertiliser) always provides us with a good base. The longevity we get from the feed, and the colour and the response are first-class.

“That’s where the Sportsmaster NK 12.0.9+Fe (a phosphate free compound fertiliser) comes in. It’s an old-school product, which I like, and the response we

get from it is rapid. The colour it provides is fantastic and it is an ideal product for match preparation or recovery. How often we apply it really depends on the pitch, but I like to think of it as giving an athlete who is very tired a can of Red Bull.

“We’ve also used H2Pro TriSmart wetting agent,” continued Ryan. “We’ve seen great results from it retaining the moisture and it has had a good effect on our root depth.”

Ryan was also keen to emphasise the vital importance of excellent customer service.

“Communication from them has always been fantastic, throughout the whole organisation - whether it is the man on the ground like Craig Lalley who comes in and sees me, through to Ed Carter, Andy Owen, or Henry Bechelet – it is all of them that go above and beyond.”

n www.icl-sf.co.uk

Foamstream helps environment

White, the site is another step closer to being completely organic and chemical-free.

John took over the running of the estate from his father in 2019, which includes Mothecombe House, the public Mothecombe Gardens and a number of holiday cottages, boasting views of the beach and Erme estuary.

“My father converted the home farm to organic in 1990 and my mother has been creating a haven for pollinators in the garden which is the legacy I am looking to build on. One of the issues I was keen to tackle was the use of herbicides on areas like our gravel paths and around our holiday lets so I tasked our Head Gardener Martin Haxton with finding a viable alternative.”

Martin explains how, after trialling various alternatives, the team settled on Foamstream.

and another is the ability to use it in all weather conditions which means you’re not reliant on the perfect weather conditions to conduct the operation.”

Foamstream is a green solution to weed and moss control, utilising a combination of hot water and a patented foam made from natural plant oils and sugars to retain heat and effectively kill a wide variety of weed species. In trials, Foamstream has demonstrated similar efficacy to glyphosate, outperforming other non-herbicidal alternatives.

“It was clear during our research that Foamstream had been thoroughly tried and tested, in a range of situations and would give us the results we wanted” said John.

Flete Estate, home to Mothecombe Gardens, have eliminated herbicide use and created a more environmentally friendly space for both people and pollinators, by switching to Foamstream from Weedingtech. Sustainability has always been a focus for the family-run estate situated in a picturesque part of South Devon and now, under the management of John Mildmay-

“There are various tools and techniques that all claim to provide an effective non-herbicidal solution. We did some research and tried various options such as burning, which we found was very labour intensive, expensive and at the end of the day, not overly effective.

“There were lots of positives about Foamstream, firstly that it’s all organic

“We purchased an L12 in August 2022 and it’s been a brilliant investment. The set-up is quick and simple and operators have commented on how easy it is to move around the gardens meaning we can tackle weed growth in all areas thanks to the 20m hose and highly portable lance applicator.” John concludes, “We’re delighted with how well Foamstream works and how this will help in our drive to provide a cleaner environment for everybody, including wildlife, to enjoy.”

Batteries have come a long way...

We can all remember our first experience of batteries – and it wasn’t good.

It was that moment on Christmas morning when we had unwrapped our favourite new toy. We’d then spot an anxious glance between mum and dad followed by one of them disappearing into the kitchen. Five minutes later they’d returned with a brief shake of the head in the direction of the other before calling us over with some bad news, “Batteries not included”…

“and we don’t have any in the house,”

“Bloody batteries!”

Since then our relationship with batteries has gradually improved, with the odd hiccup, often when we find an old torch or Walkman, totally unusable because of a corroded battery inside..

They allowed us to have our first mobile phone and remember it wasn’t the fact that it had two hours battery life at that time. It was “Wow! Two hours battery life.” That was regarded as revolutionary in the early days of the mobile. It’s only now when we are complaining about the battery not lasting

a day, when we’d been draining it for hours on end surfing the net, watching YouTube and even making phone calls that you think back at the limitations of those early brick-like phones.

Battery development is the key to so much of what we want to achieve going forward, not least with electric cars. You can be sure that if we equate current cars to those early day mobile phones, where we will be in 20 years’ time with our cars is totally mind boggling. I’m sure we will be looking at batteries which will take us the length of the country on one charge.

That technology is also crucial in so many of our industry’s equipment whether it be hand tools or even compact tractors and the ability to work all day on one charge – or even recharge to full in a matter of minutes will be common place before we know it.

So let’s forgive the humble battery the disappointment it heaped upon us on all those Christmas mornings and delight in the fact that it is at the forefront of so much of our research and development

Dennis ES-34Rs keep noise down

Three electric Dennis ES-34R rotary mowers have made life a little easier for the groundstaff at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, according to Anthony Parker, Deputy Head of Grounds.

Battery-powered equipment was always the long-term goal for Molineux Stadium, home to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, but a change in circumstances gave the club an opportunity to invest in it sooner than planned.

“The Covid season really affected our work after a game. All television interviews took place on the pitch so we couldn’t get on straight after a game to start cleaning up. However, the Premier League allowed an exception if electric machinery was used due to it being quieter. We wanted to go down the greener route anyway, so this just helped us make the decision a bit earlier than planned,” explained Anthony.

“It was important to do our due diligence and look at all the different electric mowers on the market,” continued Anthony.

“We trialled several mowers and gathered

all the feedback from different members of groundstaff. In the end we just felt more comfortable using the Dennis ES-34R’s. The Dennis mowers we have had in the past have always been very good, robust, trustworthy machines. We have always had good back-up from the company and there is just peace of mind there.”

The ES-34R is a 34” battery powered twin blade rotary mower using the latest lithium-ion battery technology. It is ideal for fine turf mowing and cleaning up operations in stadia and training facilities. Utilising the contra rotating hardened steel blades and low chute ensures maximum collection performance.

While allowing ground staff to achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface, the E-Series range will also help meet sustainability and environmental initiatives, minimise carbon footprint, emissions, running costs, HAV’s and noise without any range anxiety.

The groundstaff at Molineux had previously used the Dennis petrol rotary mowers – the PRO 34R’s, and these were transferred to the training ground when Anthony purchased three Dennis ES-34R’s. According to Anthony, the ES-34R’s are just as good, if not better, than their petrol counterparts.

“I really like the speed and blade settings on the mower because you can slow it down or speed it up depending on the task. With the blades being on the maximum setting it allows you to suck up more debris and gives you more suction power. On the fast setting you could fly

over the whole pitch in 40 minutes to an hour – so it is a big-time saver as well. Alternatively, if you slow the speed down you can go over areas such as the goal mouths, which have a lot of debris, more carefully – ensuring you pick it all up.”

The Dennis ES-34R is also fitted with a weatherproof colour LCD programmable display and keypad which operates the machine and will feed back information to the operator including ground speed, battery charge level, instructions and much more. This can easily be updated and customised to suit individual customer requirements.

“Everything is made simple by the LCD screen which allows you to change settings with just the touch of a button,” continued Anthony.

“We also don’t have to worry about the transportation of fuels and we are storing less fuel on site, so it is all a big plus.

“It has very quick charging, and we don’t have any range anxiety at all. In fact, we can do a full pitch and still have 70% battery left which is very impressive.

“We also find that the ES-34R’s put in a nice bold stripe and there have been quite a lot of times this year leading up to a matchday where we would rotary up and down with them to get that prominent stripe and then we would use the cylinder mowers to cut width ways. Presentation wise we would have no issue cutting with them on a matchday.

“The ES-34R is a well-balanced, userfriendly mower which we could all use for hours on end,” concluded Anthony. n www.dennisuk.com

Battery power as you’ve never seen it

The early arrivals of rechargeable battery powered mowers, blowers, trimmers, and chainsaws were seen by many as less powerful, more expensive versions of lightweight corded electric equipment.

But battery tech rapidly improved to compete with petrol power, so that today’s lithium-ion rechargeable battery powered equipment really is an effective, cleaner, quieter alternative to petrol. Bypassing the ongoing costs of petrol as well as the ongoing engine maintenance equalises the initial price difference in as little as a single season.

For decades, petrol-powered gardening and landscape equipment has been a reliable choice. This is coupled with the fact that innovation in battery technology has remained slow in meeting the

dynamic and ever-growing demands of professional turf managers.

Professionals have tended to veer away from battery-powered equipment due to excessive charging time before use, the high expense associated with the limited lifecycle, and unreliable performance quality.

Despite growing concerns that the air and noise pollution associated with petrolpowered equipment is having a severe impact on the environment, professionals have been forced to pick an option that provides economical advantage in terms of power and uninterrupted operation.

Tackling the current limitations of battery head-on, with a groundbreaking opportunity, Kress is taking the transformation from petrol to battery to the next level, creating a stronger, faster, quieter, more affordable option, that is specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of commercial landscapers and is set to drive battery-power technology forward to a brighter, more efficient future.

The new commercial Kress 8-minute Cybersystem battery platform has been engineered to have the fastest re-charge of any commercial battery

system available, has twice the power output of standard lithium-ion batteries and has been developed with heavyduty use in mind. It is battery-power as we have never seen it before.

With a petrol-free future on the horizon, and recent soaring prices in the UK, the latest evolution in Kress’ battery-powered technology is a remarkable, timely development.

“Everyone is waiting for a change in professional gardening and landscaping equipment, petrol will soon have to be replaced and, for that reason, Kress has come up with a powerful solution,” says Don Gao, Chairman and CEO of Positec Group.

“It’s time for an energy system evolution.”

As a part of the well-stablished Positec family of brands, Kress is recognised for its superior German engineering that has been synonymous with reliability, quality, and industry leading standards for over 50 years.

This new line of Kress commercial-grade outdoor power equipment, powered by its exclusive cordless battery technology, is a revolutionary development and highlights the commitment towards a future that will forever eliminate the need for petrol-powered equipment.

THE NEW KRESS 8-MINUTE CYBERSYSTEM BATTERY PLATFORM HAS THE FASTEST RE-CHARGE OF ANY COMMERCIAL BATTERY SYSTEM AVAILABLE

Cultivating new possibilities

Mark Earles, Business Development Manager for Outdoor Power Equipment at Makita UK, explains how opting for cordless equipment doesn’t mean compromising on power or performance

While petrol power has long been the go-to fuel for most outdoor landscaping jobs, many are now making the switch to battery power. With no power cables, petrol and generators to consider and manage, operators can enjoy total freedom and flexibility to work across the site.

The absence of a power cable also removes potential trip hazards and eliminates the risk of the cable snagging on something or coming into contact with the moving parts of the machine. And, as there is no need to handle and transport fuel, the dangers of spillage and fire, both in transit and on-site, are removed.

The issue of fumes is also eradicated. Battery powered machines do not emit exhaust fumes and odours during operation – not only making cordless machines a much safer option for operators, but one that is better for the environment too. This is becoming increasingly important as contractors

and businesses seek ways to reduce their impact. In fact, reducing emissions was a key driver for the landscaping team at Eden Project to make the switch from petrol to cordless power equipment across the landmark site. Thankfully, advances in engineering technology and the adoption of lithiumion (Li-ion) batteries, mean that today’s cordless tools can achieve torque and speed outputs that are comparable to their corded and petrol counterparts. A key element to this is the high energy density of lithium. Li-ion batteries provide high levels of charge and high voltage to work for long periods of time. W As such, operators can rely on cordless equipment ‘fuelled’ by Li-ion batteries that

will provide the power needed to cover large areas without the need to stop and recharge. Likewise, equipment can be stored for long periods and will be ready to use at the next session, without delay.

Leading manufacturers are focusing on refining Li-ion battery voltages and technology to engineer tools that can support professionals demands for greater cordless power. Makita has invested into this area to expand its established cordless range with a more powerful 40VMax platform ‘XGT’, which combines tool design and higher output batteries to provide a genuine solution for high demand applications.

Makita’s XGT cordless garden products are all powered 40V XGT batteries, meaning landscapers can easily switch between products such as cordless lawn mowers, blowers and hedge trimmers, simply by changing the battery between products. As such, operators can adapt their work schedules easily, transitioning between tasks, as and when required.

Makita’s XGT range now comprises over 100 products including more than 25 garden and grounds maintenance models. n www.makitauk.com

Pellenc stood out

Tony Chalkley, General Manager of D. Horne Services, has explained why he chose Pellenc above other brands of battery-powered equipment.

“For anyone that is considering changing to electric equipment I would certainly recommend Pellenc. The products have been 100% in every single way,” said Tony.

D. Horne Services, based in Girvan on the Ayrshire coast, offers a comprehensive range of external grounds maintenance and management services to a diverse client base which includes sports facilities, housing associations, educational establishments, and the corporate and private sector.

As the company continues to grow in both stature and reputation, Tony believes that it is essential to keep looking to the future and that is where battery-powered technology comes in.

“We contacted our local Pellenc dealer, which is Agrovista Amenity, and they very kindly setup a demo. We then went away and researched other battery-powered products on the market, but we were so impressed by the demonstration that we felt the Pellenc equipment would be best for us.”

“Another reason for moving over to the Pellenc equipment is because fuel prices are escalating and going through the roof. As a small company we needed to diversify and look for other opportunities to be able to do the job and do it more economically. The savings that we are making compared to fossil fuels, is a significant amount.”

Tony’s Pellenc fleet features Rasion mowers, Helion hedge-cutters, Excelion strimmers and Airion blowers – and he can’t imagine ever switching back to petrol-based machinery.

“These Pellenc tools easily go on for hours on end with a full battery life,” he said. “You don’t get the vibrations, they are lightweight and easy to use, and we’ve never had any issues whatsoever. The difference between this equipment and petrolbased machinery is night and day.”

n www.pellencuk.com

Get ready for SAGE 2023!

The sports and amenity show of the summer, zero limitations, totally outdoors, designed to get hands-on and test out the latest and most advanced equipment and solutions on the market, SAGE is not to be missed this July.

SAGE will be held at Three Counties Showground, Malvern on 10-20 July. Filled with live outdoor demos of the latest machinery, leading industry exhibitors, expert-led summits, live music, entertainment, food vendors, and sponsored bar, SAGE should be top of your list of expos to visit this summer!

Try before you buy

Visiting SAGE is more than just another exhibition; it’s a hands-on, interactive experience with zero limitations. Known for having the largest outdoor demonstration space, SAGE offers industry-leading brands unlimited space to demo their equipment, no matter the size! Now you can test-drive the newest ride-on lawn mower or put that woodchipper

you’ve had your eye on to the test!

With brands such as Toro, EGO, Trimax, and many more on the exhibitor line-up, the latest equipment in the sports and grounds industry will all be in one place, as well as our official sponsors Weibang UK.

How sustainable is your business?

This year, SAGE 2023 is leading the way in making exhibitions greener. In line with green practices outlined by official green partner GRASS, SAGE is making several sustainable changes to the expo. Throughout the event, you’ll notice a huge emphasis on how the event is trying to run sustainably.

In partnership with its partners Bio-Circle & GRASS, SAGE has built a jam-packed agenda to challenge how sustainable solutions are accessed in the industry. It is also well worth checking out the agenda for The Green Business Expo, which runs alongside SAGE, visitors have exclusive free entry into leading panel discussions such as, Is going green is viable for my business?

Something for everyone

Whether you work for the council, within education institutions, in landscaping & grounds maintenance, construction, or anywhere with a passion for sports or grounds maintenance, SAGE will have something for you. Come along to discover, demo, and network at SAGE 2023. For more information, visit https:// sportsandgrounds.events/

Redexim returns to SAGE

Redexim UK are delighted to be returning to the Sports and Grounds Expo this July, with a showcase of maintenance equipment that is critical to delivering first-class sports surfaces.

Beside their iconic Verti-Drain 2519 which continues to set the benchmark for professional aeration, stands 8 and 8D will be home to a

host of other Redexim innovations including the Turf Tidy and 6m wide Top-Brush.

Proving that multi-purpose doesn’t have to mean a compromise in performance, the Redexim Turf Tidy combines de-thatching, flail cutting or sweeping with collection in a single pass. It is designed with a fully floating head that follows the grounds’ contours ensuring clean and even pick-up of clippings, thatch and other debris making it ideal for a wide range of applications.

Speed and efficiency are also at the heart of the Top-Brush 6000 –comprised of three poly brushes which can be accurately set to a desired working depth for dew clearance, worm cast dispersal or simply enhancing presentation of large areas such as golf fairways or sports pitches. Brushes can be set to rotate or contra-rotate to the direction of travel and, once the job is done, the ‘wings’ can be hydraulically lifted and folded for convenient transportation

and storage.

Also on show will be the popular Rink DS800 topdresser and the 1575 Overseeder 3D. The Overseeder 3D is one of a number of disc seeders available from the Redexim range, offering an accurate seed delivery mechanism for precision placement and optimal conditions for germination. The Overseeder 3D is also one of the qualifying models for the current Redexim seed promotion, running in conjunction with Origin Amenity Solutions.

To help facilities combat the rising costs associated with overseeding, anybody who purchases a qualifying seeder through a Redexim Regional Partner until September can receive a redeemable voucher for £500 of seed from OAS’s new Carbon4Grass range.

More information on the promotion or products from across the Redexim range can be found by speaking to the technical team at SAGE, on 19-20 July at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern.

Protruding roots on fairways and approaches were causing mower damage and affecting play at Tewkesbury Park, but the Imants RootPruner supplied by Campey Turf Care Systems, provided a clean and easy solution.

Removing roots meant excavating around the area, which would cause disruption and look unsightly. For Course Manager Paul Hathaway this was unacceptable because it was at odds with his standards.

The golf resort was recently voted number 50 in the Today’s Golfer best golf resorts in the Great Britain and Ireland. Keeping these standards on the 6554 yard, par 72 Deerpark course meant finding a solution, and Paul found it in the RootPruner.

“We noticed the roots protruding through the surface of a few approaches and fairways, and these kept being caught by the mower, damaging the blades and

Tewkesbury Park get the break they need

putting the mower ‘off-cut’,” Paul explained.

“This was more noticeable during the drought we had last year. We tried to dig and cut them out, but the mess looked unsightly and didn’t stop the roots from coming back. I always feel prevention is better than cure, so I decided to search for a machine to cut the roots near the canopy of the trees so we wouldn’t damage the health of the trees but stop the roots from encroaching into play.

“In the past, I have used an excavator to create a root break, but the disruption this caused wasn’t suitable to the standards we expect the course to be in, so we needed a machine that would create a root break but be efficient, neat and tidy.

“With the RootPruner, we were able to get around the entire course with ease and were very surprised how quick it was. The roots we went over have been removed, so we don’t have any protruding the surface, and so far, we don’t have any new roots coming through, so I am hopeful this will continue.”

The RootPruner cuts roots up to

100mm in diameter with no clean-up, making it useable on the course with no worries of shutting holes through surface damage. It also has the ability to decompact tight, narrow areas with ease and includes a unique patented triplereduction planetary gearbox for smooth, maximum torque drive to the rotor shaft. The RootPruner also features a factory set, torque limiting PTO shaft eliminating all shear bolts and spring clutches.

For a parkland course, it can be an invaluable machine. Paul heard about it from a club in the local area who have shared similar results, and seeing it on his property once was enough to convince him to purchase his own unit.

“Once we had the demo, we were very impressed with the smoothness, cleanness and size of the roots it would cut,” he said.

“I would definitely recommend the RootPruner. It’s so quick and easy to use, it will save you downtime and money on repairing mowers damaged from hitting tree roots, and also make the surface better from not having roots protruding through.”

Worth waiting for

Scott MacCallum speaks with Links Manager James Bledge about a “little cracker” that is about to be revealed to the world when The Open gets underway at Royal Liverpool

Photographs courtesy of James Bledge

When Steve Jobs signed off on the very first iPhone, the wait to announce to the world that he’d changed the course of telecommunications must have been excruciating. The same with Leonardo da Vinci, when he dabbed that last bit of paint on the Mona Lisa, stood back and realised that he’d produced a little cracker. The wait for it to be unveiled would have tested the patience of most.

Royal Liverpool Golf Club has its own brand new “little cracker”, and the club is patiently waiting for the rest of the golfing world to find out all about it. That wait, extended because the new hole was built before lockdown and the Open rota was then put back a year, will come to an end in the third week in July when The Open is played over

this historic course on the Wirral.

The new par-3 17th is inspiring and completely different from what it replaced which, in itself was a very decent hole. Played in the opposite direction to its predecessor, the new hole is a true masterpiece. Just over 130 yards, it is played to a small raised green with the runoffs shaved to seven millimetres meaning anything less than a well struck, well judged, shot could disappear off the sides and very likely into one of three cavernous bunkers. Any player, within four good swings of lifting the Claret Jug, (the 18th has also been redesigned and is now a 600 yard plus par-5) is undoubtedly going to take a few extra deep breaths before the tee shot. Indeed, players close to the cut line come Friday afternoon will

heave a sign of relief if they depart the green with scorecard intact.

Links Manager, James Bledge, believes that the hole will soon join the pantheon of famous par-3s, which includes luminaries such as the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon, the 12th at Augusta National, the 17th at Sawgrass and the 11th at the Old Course. He’s not wrong, it’s unlikely that after this Open the 17th at Royal Liverpool would be blackballed and left out of the top par-3 club.

“I think it will be one of the most famous golf holes in the world when The Open is over – it should be. Much will depend on the weather. If we get four windy days, it’s going to be really exciting. If we get four calm days it would be a case of just pitching into the green and

James Bledge and his team at Royal Liverpool

it should be fairly easy,” he said, adding that Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald and DP Tour Pro, Richie Ramsay, had already tested out the hole with Ramsay hitting the green with both an 8 and a 9-iron.

James, universally known as “Bledge”, takes no credit for the new hole having joined the club from Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club after it had been designed by Martin Ebert and constructed by Golflink Evolve Ltd, but since arriving at the club 18 months ago he and his team have nurtured it with all the care of a new born baby.

“It had all grown in when I arrived, but what we’ve done is really try to improve the turf quality over the back of the green because that was very thin because of the sand blow. We’ve now got a really good

sward around the back and it’s a lot fairer as the ball will stick now rather than roll down into the sand scrape, while the Marram grass is coming through nicely,” explained Bledge, as we stood admiring the stunning new hole.

It’s not as though Royal Liverpool, also known as Hoylake, hasn’t been good enough to identify the best when The Open came to town. The two most recent Opens, since the course returned to the rota in 2006 and 2014, were won by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy respectively. Others to have won The Open around Royal Liverpool include JH Taylor, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones and Peter Thomson – legends all.

So you can see why the opportunity to take over as Links Manager was such an enticing

prospect and pulled Bledge away from Royal Cinque Ports GC, a club and golf course which had held his heart and soul for the previous seven years.

“Cinque Ports is where my heart is and will always be. It’s where all my friends are and, that we had taken the course out of the doldrums and into the top 100 courses in the world, is the biggest achievement the team and I ever had.

“But I felt that I couldn’t take it much further, and I’d never made a secret of the fact that I wanted an Open golf course. They don’t come up very often so you’ve really got to go for it when they do. And I went hard at it,” he explained, adding that the opportunity to bring up his two children in the Liverpool area, live in a house on the golf }

“I THINK IT WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS GOLF HOLES IN THE WORLD WHEN THE OPEN IS OVER –IT SHOULD BE. MUCH WILL DEPEND ON THE WEATHER. IF WE GET FOUR WINDY DAYS, IT’S GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITING. IF WE GET FOUR CALM DAYS IT WOULD BE A CASE OF JUST PITCHING INTO THE GREEN AND IT SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY”

}

course itself and be closer to his wider family in Dumfries and Galloway was an added bonus.

Having taken over in November 2021 from Craig Gilholm, who had produced excellent tests of golf for the two most recent Opens, The Open was very much front and centre in his thinking from day one. Correction. Before day one, as he started making plans, creating spreadsheets, thinking about the volunteer team, from the moment the job had been confirmed.

“I’m a big planner and like to get as much done as early as possible. I hate leaving things to the last minute, so Jenny would be watching the telly and I’d be banging ideas into a laptop.”

If he had a middle name, and being known by a single moniker he doesn’t, it would be “Meticulous”, because nothing with Bledge is left to chance.

What that means is that when we visited, two months ahead of the Championship, he was relaxed, safe in the knowledge that all the major work had already been carried out.

“There are no major activities or processes that we still need

to do. We are carrying on with our wetting agents and small fertiliser applications on the fairways and greens and that’s about it. If we get a dry spell, though, it will be all hands on deck with moisture management. We don’t want any fairy rings, as these greens do dry out very fast.”

Wetting agents and water management weren’t at the top of the list when Bledge arrived at the club, as he had been warned that he was moving from the sunny south to one of the wettest parts of the country.

“It was all lies. We had the driest summer in history last year and it was a real baptism of fire. I was taking on a new job and having to learn about the course, the team and about the area and it didn’t rain from March right the way through.

“We couldn’t lay any turf or do any seeding and, being my first year, I had no idea how to budget our water supply. I didn’t want to waste it, or use it up to early, so I erred on the side of caution.”

He has enjoyed bringing some of the practices he developed at Deal and implementing them within his new team, while he

also was impressed with many of the things that were already going on within the Royal Liverpool team.

“I brought in some ideas on how the shed should be set up and agronomy practices, but every site is different and not everything worked. I have had to eat humble pie on occasion. Craig did an amazing job here as we all know and the team wanted to keep a lot of existing practices going and I’m guided by them.”

As we looked around the course the staging was well underway with massive hospitality units and grand stands rising above the dunes.

Bledge is well aware of what a wonderful opportunity it is for any greenkeeper to be a part of The Open and he has worked hard to ensure there all levels of greenkeeper are a part of the experience.

“I’ve got a really diverse team of volunteers including everyone from apprentices and assistants up to Deputies and Course Manages. I’ve also made sure I’ve got some of the very best Course Managers with me, including Lee Strutt, who is coming over from Canada; Grant Frogley, from Ladybank; Matt Plested, from Stoneham, and John Mcloughlin, from Wallasey, while I’ve also got some guys from Royal Dornoch. In addition, he will also have the BIGGA Greenkeeping Support team, who look after the bunkers during the Championship, at his disposal should additional people power be required.

“One of the things we did was run an apprentice competition and the three winners will be on the team. Two of them are going to be cutting greens for The Open. I love giving kids a chance and responsibility

and what an amazing chance from them to come into our industry with this under their belts.”

Unlike St Andrews last year where Toro Greens triples were used to cut the greens, Bledge will revert to hand mowers this year, albeit Toro electric hand mowers.

“We do use Toro electric triples –3370s – to cut greens here but for The Open itself we are using hand mowers. The reason being, that we have some quite sharp run-offs on some of these greens – notably the 17th – and with double cutting in the mornings I don’t want tyre marks, especially if it is going to be dry, as that would stress them out.

“St Andrews was different as their greens are huge. Our greens are much smaller. The one we are standing on now for example is just 330 square metres so I believe

“I’VE GOT A REALLY DIVERSE TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING EVERYONE FROM APPRENTICES AND ASSISTANTS UP TO DEPUTIES AND COURSE MANAGES. I’VE ALSO MADE SURE I’VE GOT SOME OF THE VERY BEST COURSE MANAGERS WITH ME”

hand mowing is the way to go,” he said, adding that he has six teams of two set up for the task.

As Bledge scans the course and the vast Open preparations he surely lets his mind wander back to where his golfing education began – sitting on a stile by the side of the 13th hole at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club.

“We lived next to a farm and the golf course shared a boundary with one of the fields. At the age of 10 I’d sit all day on that stile

watching the golfers go by and then, just before it was time to go in for tea, I’d go and find all the lost balls,” said Bledge, who learned his own golf at nearly Lockerbie Golf Club, before eventually becoming Deputy Course Manager at the Dumfries and Galloway.

“My predecessor, Steven Carmichael, has just left the club, but he regularly sent me pictures of Bledge’s Stile.”

It was his love of the outdoor live, working on his neighbour’s farm, and golf which led him to Elmwood College, Cupar, and then on a path which took him from Dumfries and Galloway, to Norway, Gullane, Kingsbarns, Sweden, GWest and then Deal.

“The opportunities are amazing in greenkeeping. I’m a big golfer and a golf geek and the places I’ve visited and had the chance to play through invites and having reciprocal visits with others are insane. If I’m ever down I just look through the pictures of the places I’ve been and think I’m the luckiest person alive.”

For a few minutes on the afternoon of Sunday, July 23, he will also be one

of the most recognisable people alive, when he is a part of the presentation party on the 18th green.

“It’s the thing I’m looking forward to most to be honest. I always remember my peers, Craig Boath, at Carnoustie and Graeme Beatt, at Portrush, being on that presentation party. I took a picture of the television screen and sent it to them, saying that they were in front of 600 million people.

“It’s the highlight of your career… but we need to get to that point first.”

Pragmatic as ever, but you can sense that, like Steve and Leonardo, he can’t wait to show off his work and, in particular, the new hole for which he is now custodian.

n Check out Scott MacCallum talking with Bledge on the Turf Matters YouTube channel

James Bledge and the coveted trophy

Tough to get right

I’ve been fortunate to have visited the research bases of some wonderful seed producing companies, both at home and abroad, and never failed to be amazed at the levels of sophistication on display… and more than that the patience displayed by those involved in identifying new varieties of seed. Not just patience, it takes many many years for a new variety to become commercially viable, but the disappointments are huge and frequent.

For example, you can be working on a new drought/ disease resistant strain and everything is looking great. On trail plots it is outperforming everything else and you think you are on a winner. Let’s face it there is no point in producing a new variety which doesn’t match up to what is already available, so the bar for a successful new seed is set extremely high. Then when everything is looking just right you find that while the seed has all the properties you want from a new seed you discover that the one thing it’s not very good at is reproducing and you just can’t produce the yield to make it viable. It could have taken years to get to that point and it’s back to the drawing board.

That’s the life of grass seed producer. So much has to go right for the next breakthrough.

Thank you for all the work you do and keep taking the knocks! It’ll be worth it in the end.

Grass seed and wildflower mixtures in new brochure

Agrovista Amenity, a leading supplier of professional products and specialist advice, has launched its new seed brochure for 2023/24.

The new brochure features an extensive list of Agrovista Amenity’s seed offerings, including a comprehensive range of grass and wildflower mixtures.

Many turf professionals have benefitted from using the CleenCut and TechniTurf ranges of grass seed which have been specifically selected to maximise the strengths of different cultivars and species. Readers of the brochure can discover how the CleenCut range offers mixtures at a competitive price, whilst using quality STRI listed cultivars and how every mixture in the TechniTurf range is coated with the innovative GroMax technology to maximise plant development. The brochure will also be an opportunity to find out more about Agrovista Amenity’s wildflower meadow mixtures, the Pro Flora range, and the Colour Boost portfolio. The wildflower meadow mixtures are designed to mimic some of the

flower rich, semi-natural habitats that exist in the UK and are vital resources for wildlife; the Pro Flora range add colour, biodiversity and interest to many landscaping projects and are particularly suitable on golf courses, whilst the Colour Boost range has been designed for maximum floral impact, incorporating both wildflower and garden flowering species.

The new seed brochure comes complete with advice on how to get the best results from the products, including

recommended period of use, directions for use and application rates.

“The aim of the seed brochure is not just to provide a list of seed mixtures, it should also offer support and guidance to help make clear and informed choices, “ said John Marland,

Agrovista Amenity’s Head of Amenity.

“Our grass seed mixtures have been carefully selected to maximise the combined strength of different cultivars and species. Tolerant of the stresses associated with their intended use whilst maximising turf quality. Agrovista

Amenity partners with some of the largest breeders and producers of seed in the UK and Europe, also calling upon the expertise from our colleagues in the Agrovista Seeds business to offer you a professional seed mixture range.”

n www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

Extreme drought condition research help in climate change battle

research culminated with the launch of Sustainable Grass Technology in 2020. Central to this concept is the increased use of new and improved varieties of hard fescue, a species of fine fescue with inherent drought tolerance, but now with the capability of producing high quality fine turf also. Hardtop exhibits the best resilience to heat and drought in Landlab trials, whilst another cultivar, Beacon, excels in independent testing across Europe in GEVES and BSPB/STRI official lists.

SGT Fine Fescue was created in 2021 using the extensive drought research and real-life trials in the UK. In addition to the hard fescue varieties, Barjessica strong creeping red fescue was chosen for its unparalleled recovery after drought. The product also contains slender creeping and Chewings red fescues for improved disease tolerance and shoot density.

Last year we saw another glorious summer, but another full of challenges for turf managers. The combination of heat and drought, particularly in England, has resulted in loss of grass cover on many golf courses, only four years after the decimation of 2018.

Records indicate that 2022 was possibly the driest year since 1976. In fact, four of the five warmest summers on record for England have now occurred since 2003 and, up until the end of August, 2022 was the driest recorded year since 1976 across the whole of the UK.

For turfgrass managers looking to replace lost grass cover, help is at hand. Barenbrug grass breeders and research partners have been analysing and screening turfgrass performance under controlled drought conditions for many years, at breeding stations in Holland and France, and at the internationally renowned plant research facility Landlab, in Italy.

For the UK golf market, this

Of course, trial plots are one thing, but real-world testing on courses played in high-stress conditions is another. That’s why trialling new products with course managers is always a crucial stage for Barenbrug.

With SGT Fine Fescue, Ian Kinley, Course Manager at Royal Porthcawl, tested the product.

“Barenbrug SGT Fine Fescue is currently our product of choice for links fairways. Following grass loss during the 2018 drought, we needed a seed mixture that would withstand prolonged periods of drought and heat,” said Ian.

“A discussion with Dr David Greenshields led to us increase our hard fescue usage and trial new and improved varieties of this species. We have seen significant benefits and feel confident that we are in a better position to cope with extreme weather conditions moving forward.

“It is great to see that Barenbrug has launched SGT Fine Fescue on the back of success at Porthcawl and other venues, in addition to the continued research and development that supports the product.”

In addition to the Fine Fescue product, the SGT line-up features SGT Rye Fairway for use on inland golf courses. The drought-tolerant fescues Hardtop, Barjessica and Barpearl are combined with a perennial ryegrass, Barprium, for more extensive turf performance across a range of soil types.

Barprium excels in drought and disease trials and has another trick up its sleeve. In an independent UK trial with STRI, this fine-leafed cultivar proved its capacity for nitrogen-use-efficiency by requiring 50% less fertiliser input to deliver equivalent turf performance to other top-rated perennial ryegrasses.

As a result, SGT technology promises outstanding turf performance with reduced irrigation, fertiliser and chemical inputs on fairways, tees, and roughs. Minimising these factors complements low input maintenance and reduces costs significantly. Overseeding and/ or full renovation with these innovative grass seed mixtures offers a chance to future-proof golf courses facing uncertainty from climate and regulatory pressures. n www.barenbrug.co.uk/SGT

MM grass seed is a winner for Worcester

Worcester College, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, is benefiting from using a range of MM grass seed.

Founded in 1714, Worcester College is steeped in history and continues to educate and house around 600 students. The College’s 26 acres of stunning grounds feature plenty of lawns alongside a lake, an orchard, and sports fields. Students at Worcester are the only ones in the University to benefit from on-site sports pitches and excel at football, cricket, and hockey.

Simon Bagnall, Head of Gardens and Grounds, has been working at the College for 19 years, and has been using the MM brand of grass seed throughout his whole tenure.

“I have been using it for as long as I can remember because of the quality of the seed - it is reliable, it performs and it has never let us down,” he said.

MM is one of the most respected brands in the UK amenity industry, with over 40 years of experience and knowledge. The extensive product portfolio is second to none with performance proven mixtures that are used at many leading venues in the UK and Europe.

There are two mixtures within the MM portfolio that Simon and his team rely on, as he explained.

“We use MM50 and MM21 across all our sports fields and utility lawns. We normally oversow with the mixtures during our renovation period and then will apply them through the year if we need to do any repairs.

“Another benefit of using these MM seed mixtures is the speed with which they germinate. We have quite a short window between renovations and when the students come back so to be able to get some grass growing quickly is a huge bonus for us.”

MM50 is one of the UK’s biggest selling grass mixtures. The hardwearing ryegrass mix is very fine leaved, has high shoot density, is tolerant to close mowing down to 4-5mm and produces a great colour all year round.

It also has quick recovery from damage and play.

MM21 produces a dense, fine and attractive sward and is a great mix for lawns and landscaping with low ryegrass.

Josh Hall, Deputy Head of Gardens and Grounds, further explained how the team uses the MM mixtures.

“We use MM21 on the main lawn because it is shaded by mature trees and there is a lack of light. The rye and fescue in the mixture work well together to give us good coverage in what could otherwise be a problematic area. The MM21 is normally applied in March or April so that it is growing nicely over the spring and summer.

“The MM50 is basically used everywhere else, especially on our sports pitches, and it is our go-to product. Our pitches take a real hammering with the number of games we have and to have some grass at the end of a season is important to us. We get that with MM50 – it is very hard-wearing. In fact, you don’t expect something to be so fine to do such a hardwearing job, but it does. It also produces a fantastic colour.”

With Worcester being an Oxford University college, it has a certain reputation to uphold. The demand is high and that in turn can put pressure on Simon and his team. With this in mind, Simon sees the value in working with key suppliers like MM.

“We get a brilliant service and Matt Gresty (MM Sales and Marketing Manager) is always available to speak to if I need advice. He sees us regularly, helps us out a lot and I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“I will always recommend the MM range of grass seed and I would encourage people to come and have a look at our lawns and pitches so they can see the results for themselves.”

n www.mm-seeds.co.uk

Arm that swings back for safety

SCH Supplies manufactures the GWCS9, which is a versatile sprayer suitable for herbicides and fertilisers in large and small areas. The nozzle at each end of the boom is mounted on a swing-back arm so, in the event of the boom coming into contact with a tree or shrub, it will swing back instead of breaking off. The maximum spray width is 2440mm, and with the wing booms folded back and switched off, the spray width reduces to 1220mm. The lawn tractor’s battery powers the 12V diaphragm pump. Inline filters are incorporated to prevent blocked nozzles and timeconsuming blockages. When the pump is off, anti-drip nozzles stop the liquid from continuing to flow. Supplied with this sprayer is a brass hand-trigger lance, complete with quick and simple twist connectors. This lance is helpful for spot spraying and around trees and shrubs. In case of spillage, a 5-litre wash bottle is mounted on the chassis to save grass and skin from chemical burns. n www.schsupplies.co.uk

Andrew’s personal touch bring success to Fox Cylinder Mowers

I have always thought that Caractacus Potts was a remarkable man. He had a rare combination of talents, encompassing imagination and engineering excellence. He locked himself in his workshop and eventually emerged to unveil something unique to the world – I’m here to tell Caractacus that there is a new sheriff in town, his name… Andrew Fox!

Andrew Fox also locked himself in his workshop and came up with something unique. A hand built 20” cylinder mower, boasting the most advanced cut available with a 14 blade professional cylinder, bespoke designed shaver blade and enhanced cutting mechanism etc etc. Andrew has since built over 200 of his very own cylinder mowers.

What’s more Andrew has now come up with a new machine, again it is unique and a first in its design, a Verticutter that is something else!

Totally unique and which is about to take the world of cricket and bowling green maintenance by storm. Read on!

A lifelong cricketer, Andrew developed his cricket skills at Millfield School (Millfield featured elsewhere in this issue) from the age of 7 to the age of 18, where he was a classmate and good friend of Sky Sports presenter and ex-England player, Ian Ward.

Andrew’s father, Malcolm, has just retired as Chair of the Somerset Cricket League for 20 years and his son George, another ex-Millfield boy, is also a fine cricketer.

Andrew launched Fox Cylinder Mowers

back in 2016 and after hand building each mower he then delivers it personally, assuring people know exactly how to use it, use it safely and how to easily adjust it.

But, other than in the hand built nature of the mowers and Andrew’s personal touch, what is it that makes them stand out?

“The USP of my mowers is the cut and price, the cut is at least equal if not in advance of the professional machines, simply due to the laws of physics, and of course the ever important price. Being virtually half the price of the professional machines, people mistake my machines for being domestic or a far Eastern special, this is simply not true! As a one man band in a home workshop and no distributor’s margins, you remove such a huge ‘chunk’ of cost. The Black versions also boasts a large GX genuine Honda engine, not designed to go fast, but to be laid back – it will last forever and a day,” explained Andrew.

Since completing the design of the new Verticutter early this year Andrew has since been working directly with Honda UK, something Andrew is particularly proud of considering his size, and has now just completed the full electric version of his machines. To the best of his knowledge Andrew is the first in the cylinder mower world to use Honda’s electric combination. This he hopes will provide piece of mind for potential customers, as Honda has a legendary name worldwide for market leading excellence in reliability and longevity, it is definitely not an unknown brand!

Andrew also offers servicing on his machines, driving around the country picking them up in the off-season and returning them to their grateful owners back in ‘as new’ showroom/concourse condition.

Now, onto the new unique Verticutter

Andrew has just designed. Something which Andrew expects will have an equally big impact on the industry, and which is likely to put additional pressure on the one-man-band nature of his business.

“I’ve produced a Verticutter which is completely and utterly unique,” he revealed.

The new machine (also in black and green editions) is built on the same chassis as the mower.

“It is something else, because it is brush assisted! Brush clusters sit just in front the cutting discs and pertrode, to assist by lifting the lateral grass nano seconds before the cutting discs cut. It has rotating stainless steel discs that are two millimetres thick, not the standard one millimetre, and we use hook eyes, not just pointed edges, to be more effective. These are placed at 10 millimetre intervals, not the standard 15 millimetre spacing, providing more cutting discs and brush clusters per unit.

“It is being sold as a brush assisted Verticutter and there is nothing like it on the market,” said Andrew, who added that the new machine was “Patent Pending”.

In all likelihood demand is going to outstrip supply as Andrew has no intention of scaling up and enjoys the personal approach to both his machines and his customers.

“I’ve done the big manufacturing business pre-2016, employing a large number of people and manufacturing large numbers, I don’t want that again. I’ve got no ambitions of getting to the stage where I need a production line and building a big Gin Palace, that would lose all the ethos of it for me.

“I have piece of mind that each Fox machine is absolutely spot on, even polished, before each one is delivered,” said Andrew, who does admit that as numbers of his mowers and Verticutters increase, it will put the pressure on his personal touch.

“When I get to the point where it is causing an issue I will cross that bridge,” is his reply to that one.

There is no doubt that whatever bridge Andrew does encounter he will find a way of navigating it and that his finest British hand built mowers will continue to play a very fine tune on a larger scale!

Andrew’s machines may not fly nor float, but I’m sure, on the other hand, Caracacus Potts would have been envious of Andrew’s ability to scale up to the numbers and his product portfolio! n www.foxcm.co.uk

Andrew Fox: Unique products and personal approach

The Black Edition Verticutter

Balancing art and science

We are in an exciting period of the year for golf. Our own courses are at their best offering fast running conditions and shorts more in an abundance than waterproof trousers and everyone should be in a good frame of mind.

Coupled with that, we have the professionals showing us how it is done over the toughest tests the game has to offer. The Open Championship is about to be played over Royal Liverpool Golf Club, one of the very finest tests of golf to find anywhere. The fact that their last two Open Champions have been Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy is testament to the fact that the course identifies the best.

Standards of golf course maintenance are now at a level that anyone time travelling, from even as recently as the 1980s, could

never imagine, and the ability to measure soil condition and plant health mean that issues which plagued the Head Greenkeepers of yesteryear are often cut off a the path. That doesn’t mean that the job has become easier. No way, with the tools to improve comes expectation of perfect conditions and golf with forever be an outdoor game with all the variables that that entails. The very best Course Managers are using all the tools available to them, but they also have a feel for their golf course and know, just know, what is best for it, so those with the best balance of art and science are the ones who produce the very best golf courses. So we are in an exciting period whether you are a golfer or a greenkeeper.

Mansfield Sand’s MM35 is ‘pure’ brilliant

When Stuart Broom, Head Greenkeeper at Honiton Golf Club, was looking for a pure sand for top-dressing, he identified Mansfield Sand’s MM35 Golf as the ideal product.

Honiton Golf Club, in Devon, is a short 18-hole parkland course which is 850 ft above sea level and boasts some spectacular views. Stuart has been working at the Club since March 2015 and was appointed as the Head Greenkeeper in September 2019. Throughout his time at Honiton, Stuart has overseen some big changes and is now pleased with the direction the course is heading.

“I would say that we are work in progress, but we have come a very long way in the past few years,” he said. “The club is doing really well, we have a lot of new members, and the goal is to keep improving course conditions every year.”

Stuart and his five members of staff work hard to make improvements wherever they can, and as soon as one is identified, the team is quick to act.

“Last year it became apparent that our members didn’t like the soil aspect of the traditional 70/30 dressing we were applying,” he said.

“We wanted to go down the pure sand route instead, so I did a lot of research looking at all the different pure sands which might be compatible with our old dressing. The product which was most compatible and the one that stood out by far was Mansfield Sand’s MM35 Golf. Not only did it work in terms of particle size distribution, but the pH was also what we were looking for.”

Mansfield’s MM35 Golf pure silica sand is ideal for top dressing greens because it brings a number of benefits such as improved recovery, firmness, smoothness and an improved rootzone. MM35 Golf also makes for a great bunker sand as it has fantastic playing characteristics as well as being aesthetically attractive.

Sourced directly from the company’s Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield, the Mansil Silica products are predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces – from winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas.

“One of the main reasons for choosing MM35 was the pH level – which is 6.6,” continued Stuart.

“The pH was just too high on all the other competitive products we looked at. In fact, the next nearest match was 7.3.

“MM35 is a great product to work with; we can get the dressing down early in the morning, give it an hour or so to dry, and we can then brush it in before the golfers arrive. We can tell that the MM35 has signalled an improvement because members don’t really know that we’ve done it now, whereas before there was always a bit of debris laying around.

“It is our go-to product for regular light top dressings through the season and we also use it for our renovations in September. MM35 is mainly used on greens but because it has worked so well, we have started using it on the approaches as well.”

Stuart estimates that he will apply some 120 tonnes of the MM35 Golf over the course of the year and claims that ordering the product could not be a smoother process.

“From start to finish it is great. Delivery is always on time and well organised and Sharon Morris (Sales Manager for Mansfield Sand) has been superb from a customer point of view.”

n www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

Extended range from Baroness

Baroness has extended its range of Agrimetal within the UK.

Adam Butler, Director for Baroness UK, explained that they were extremely pleased to be already working with Agrimetal, having sold more than 40 rollers within the first year.

“We are now extremely excited to be complementing our range with the robust and powerful Agrimetal blowers to include the very well-priced and powerful 27HP TB-270,” he said.

“We already produce market leading cutting technology for a wide range of mowing equipment but now have added another fantastic product to our ever-growing portfolio, to be sold and supported via our extensive dealer network.

“Like the rollers, they will also

be coming into the UK sprayed in the fantastic Baroness red.”

Some of the features include:

REMOTE CONTROL

The weather resistant wireless remote system provides no-delay throttle and chute control at your fingertips.

ENCLOSED TURBINE AIR INTAKE

Our enclosed Turbine air intake provides minimal intrusion of debris within the turbine chamber.

MUFFLER

Our large muffler reduces noise. The exhaust manifold is 1/8” larger in diameter compared to some of

the competition. This improvement prevents the engine from overheating to prolonged life. The exhaust system is completely covered with a metal mesh for added safety.

STEEL FENDERS

Our fenders are constructed of steel with exclusive impact resistant bumpers to re-enforce the overall structure.

LARGE FUEL TANK

The 24L fuel tank allows you to get more done between fill ups

90° AIR NOZZLE

The 90-degree air nozzle is made of a composite material with an exclusive oblong shape outlet.

n www.baronessuk.com

Helping to preserve past, secure future

With one eye on preserving the past and the other on ensuring the site remains fit for the future, Crathes Castle – part of the National Trust for Scotland collection – have invested in a battery-powered cylinder mower from INFINICUT®. Utilising funding from the National Trust, the venue took delivery of a 22” INFINICUT® FX last September for the sustainable management of gardens and lawned areas – in a way that brings benefit to the venue and visitors alike.

For the last five years, James Hannaford has been the Head Gardener at Crathes Castle – a 16th century castle nestled amongst over 520 acres of ornamental gardens, lawns and woodland near Banchory in Aberdeenshire.

“Like a lot of places, we’re reviewing our practices to reflect the changing times and switching to more electric machinery to be cleaner and kinder to the environment” explains James. “We

looked at the options available and first of all were amazed at how far the technology has come in the few years since we first looked at electric mowers. What stood out for us with the INFINICUT® was the ease of use, the versatility and the quality of cut.”

James and the team purchased the FX22 with two SMARTCut™ cassettes – the 7-blade cylinder for lawned areas and 11-blade option for a finer cut on the sites croquet lawn. “The finish is excellent and noise has been almost completely eliminated, which is better for our environment and the thousands of visitors we get through the gardens every year. Visitor enjoyment is critical to the success of our venues.”

“We can also control the mower via

Bluetooth and an app on your phone, so settings can be changed and saved for things like the traction and brake speed.” He adds, “You can also store different set-ups for different weather conditions, for example wet and dry configurations.”

James says that the utilisation of the INFINICUT® has peaked public interest in the more sustainable solutions to turf management. “People are genuinely interested in it when we’re out using it, and discussing it only makes them more environmentally aware. With this investment we are improving quality of presentation and visitor experience, while reducing our petrol costs and environmental impact. It’s a win win situation!”

Farol’s superb reputation for service

Farol is a significant John Deere dealer, based at Milton Common in Oxfordshire. Established as a family business in 1976, they employ over 230 sales, service, parts, transport, tyre and admin staff whilst still remaining 100% family owned.

The Groundscare division distributes many major brands including Turfco, the Minnesota-based manufacturer of topdressers, blowers and overseeders.

“We appointed Farol as one of our UK dealers because they have a superb reputation for their sales and customer service operations,” said John Moore, Turfco’s European Sales Manager.

The Groundscare division is based at their headquarters in Milton Common, which acts as a distribution centre for all of their depots. It’s here that all crated machines are built-up and undergo a rigorous PDI process before being distributed to their regional dealerships or direct to the customer,

using their own fleet of delivery vehicles.”

Oliver Longden is responsible for the division’s pre-delivery inspection operation.

“Previously equipment was sent to the individual dealerships for the pdi process, but now with it all in one central location, we have greater control and consistency,” said Oliver.

“Our service operation has also been enhanced and the centralised call centre is staffed by trained technicians with

the knowledge to immediately recognise issues and act accordingly. All calls are directed here and we can manage our response across our territory.

“We are particularly excited about the new technology that is filtering down from the agricultural sector and how it will enhance our response times to service enquiries. The large John Deere agricultural equipment is now using telemetry and the service team can monitor messages received from a machine in the field and, using a traffic light system, prioritise their response. In some cases, they can notify the operator that they have an issue, before they know it! In the next generation of John Deere groundscare equipment, this will become available to us. It’s all about providing the end-user with ultimate customer service.

n jmoore@turfco.com

Capacity without compromise: the GKB Sandspreader

The Course Manager at Longniddry Golf Club in East Lothian has praised the versatility delivered by their new GKB SP100 topdresser, following its delivery in September last year.

Replacing an older, heavier unit that was difficult to manoeuvre around the 18-hole links/parkland hybrid course, the SP100 mounts onto their existing ProGator for fast, accurate and efficient dressing of the greens, tees and approaches.

David Drummond joined as Longniddry Course Manager in May 2022, and after an assessment of the machinery in the shed, the GKB Sandspreader was one of the first investments to support him and his team of five.

“Our previous topdresser was showing signs of age and as a bigger unit that needed a heavy tractor, it wasn’t really suited to our current requirements. With this is mind, I spoke to local dealer

Thomas Sherriff & Co about a vehiclemounted unit” explained David.

“Because we only have one utility vehicle, whatever we went for needed to be easily demountable and while I’d not had first-hand experience of the GKB machine before, we looked at it and were instantly impressed.”

“It’s a great set-up, very robust and the controls are all nice and simple. One particular feature we really like is the ability to adjust the distance of the spinning discs on the SP100 which gives us more control over the amount of dressing we apply.”

Offering a range of adjustable parameters, the SP100 is the smallest unit in the GKB Sandspreader range but doesn’t compromise when it comes to capacity – offering a 1m3 hopper which David says has significantly improved the efficiency of the operation.

“The hopper is really easy to load using our compact tractor and can hold a good

amount of material which results in fewer re-loads, saving all-important labour time.”

“The SP100 was out on the very first day it was delivered and has so far carried out operations on the greens, tees and approaches and moving forwards it’ll be critical to our ongoing maintenance programme.”

“We’ve been really pleased with both the machine and the service and support we’ve received from Sherriff’s throughout and after the purchase process. The team and I now look forward to putting it through its paces in the very busy season ahead.”

Crail’s new rough champion

Fife’s Crail Golfing Society, the seventh oldest club in the world, has enhanced its rough management programme with a Wiedenmann Super 600, 3-in-1 flail mower and collector.

Across the Society’s two glorious 18-hole courses, the Old Tom Morris -designed Balcomie Links and its modern counterpart, Craighead Links, there is an abundance of well-tended rough that demands close attention.

Courses Manager, Bob Meikle, explained that when considering a flail mower replacement, helooked at different manufacturers then asked

a couple of nearby course colleagues for their specific user experiences of the Wiedenmann Super 500 & 600.

“We’ve had a GXi8 aerator for six years and a Terra Combi surface conditioner since 2007, so were familiar with Wiedenmann’s build quality and reliability, but ‘real life’ feedback is invaluable.”

The new machine arrived in April from Wiedenmann UK’s Scottish dealers, Fairways GM at Kinross, with Fairways’ Mike Lindsay and Wiedenmann UK’s Andy Kerr, providing installation training.

Bob and his team of 13 greenkeepers, opted for the bigger Super 600 model with its 450-litre tank and host of classleading Health & Safety features.

The rough management mission is for native grasses, the bents and the fescues, to thrive and push out patches of less desirable rye grasses. With thinner sections, the environment is more conducive for indigenous grasses to return.

“Thinner roughs are more playable and ultimately more enjoyable for golfers, but they bring a host of benefits to flowers and fauna,” continued Bob.

“We expect to see a marked increase

in cowslips and marsh orchids, which bring added colour to the course. Nesting birds will become more prevalent.

“We are involved in the ‘corn bunting project’ which involves us preparing an area to sow out for an extra food source for sky larks and yellow hammers, in particular.

“As there are nesting birds on site, our next opportunity for flail mowing will be in autumn after a full season’s growth, but in the meantime, we have a variety of other uses for our Super 600 in mind,” said Bob.

“For example, if we have a wet cut on our semi roughs, the Super 600 can come along behind, collect stray clippings, and leave a tidier finish. It’s quite versatile and more manoeuvrable for its size than its predecessor… we have options to tip it into a trailer or empty it at one of our compounds. It also feels stable and brings peace of mind for the steeper sections and undulations of the courses.”

Sadly, the Super 600’s stellar reputation as a fantastic leaf sweeper won’t get put to the test at its new home on the famous Fife golfing coast.

“Happily, we’re all links and no trees here,” said Bob.

Consistent greens and fairways from Smithco

There’s no finer sports turf than that found on golf greens and for discerning golfer true greens with consistent ball roll are more important than fast greens. Rolling will immediately produce a smoother, truer surface with the improvements easily measured using a Stimp Meter.

Perhaps less well known is that this effect will last on the green for up to forty-eight hours after the roll, leaving a residual effect and higher than ‘normal’ speeds, improving the standards of the playing surface, without requiring daily use of the roller.

Smithco’s Tournament greens rollers provide consistent and true putting surfaces. With rolling widths from 91 cm to 1.78 metres, there’s a machine ideal for maximum efficiency on any golf course.

Smithco were one of the first companies to introduce GPS

technology for spraying, when their Star Command system debuted in 2012. Today they are on the third iteration of the system on their Spray Star range of industry-leading sprayers.

The popular Spray Star 1200 features the most accurate spray technology at your fingertips, while the GPS-enabled state-ofthe-art Star Command control module ensures a precise and consistent application every time. Superior construction materials combine to ensure industry-leading longevity across all product lines.

The cab-forward design provides superior visibility, handling, and operator comfort, providing and excellent platform that makes the work simple, comfortable, and enjoyable.

Smithco has been family-owned since 1967 and manufactures

products that are built to last. With over 50 years of experience as an industry leader in golf course and turf management for parks and recreation facility managers, we believe that consistent products produce consistent courses.

n jm@smithco.com

Yamaha gets the job done - quietly

While the successful range of Yamaha’s ATV models satisfies the requirements of many extreme off-road users, the UMX AC is designed to handle an array of tasks in commercial, industrial, agricultural and leisure environments.

At its heart, the UMX AC features a 5.0 kW motor, that’s not just quieter and better for the environment, but has a good range and is simple to plug in and charge. It delivers smooth, flexible power that takes the operator just about anywhere in a park, resort, golf course, farm, airport, factory … just simply point and go.

Its rugged design enables the UMX AC to be driven over a variety of road and non-extreme off-road terrain giving access to all areas, both indoor and outside.

Two ergonomically designed individual seats and a variable rate suspension system give a high standard of rider comfort, to ensure this quiet, smooth, comfortable light utility vehicle is ready to work hard, 24/7.

Rugged and durable bodywork is a feature of this efficient and quiet workhorse; its bodywork is designed to withstand heavy duty usage and recessed reflector-type LED headlamps emphasize its purposeful looks. Additionally, wide tyres spread the load to minimise surface impact

The UMX AC is designed to be at the ready when a job needs to be done fast – so it’s the vehicle to choose when you need to get there quickly and efficiently. Designed to operate on a variety of surfaces, even unsound ones, its tough skid plate, stable suspension and grippy tyres give it the ability to traverse non-extreme off-road terrain, making it able to work in a diverse range of environments

It’s designed to carry an impressive selection of tools, equipment and supplies thanks to its spacious aluminium cargo bed, which measures 1.05 m long x 1.16 m wide x 0.3 m deep. It also features additional space in a 29-litre storage box, ensuring that it’s an asset to any business.

The UMX AC is a sophisticated vehicle that has been manufactured using the most technologically advanced components, so when carrying out routine maintenance or replacing worn or damaged components, it makes sense to protect your investment using Genuine Yamaha Spare Parts.

A strong, stylish and compact utility vehicle that is equipped to transport two people and their cargo efficiently and offers the versatility, userfriendliness and durability that professional operators require – that’s the UMX AC.

n www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk

Potent

Millfield School has an enviable roll call of high achieving alumni. Scott MacCallum speaks with Craig Richardson, Head of Grounds and Gardens, to find out how they do it.

ial unleashed

Ask many people at which school they would have loved to have been a pupil and I’m pretty sure the name Hogwarts would feature strongly. Not for me, though, the school I would have loved to attend is Millfield School, in Somerset.

I grew up learning about the great names who had been educated, and honed their sporting prowess, at

Millfield School and I wanted to join them, not because I was particularly adept at any sport. Quite the reverse, I’m pretty inept at most sports. But I love sport and while I was never likely to achieve what the likes of Sir Gareth Edwards, Duncan Goodhew, Helen Glover, Adam Hastings, Tyrone Mings, Andrew Castle, Lando Norris, Chris Robshaw, Mako Vunipola and Huw Jones, to name

just a handful, I would undoubtedly have become more proficient with some top quality coaching. The site itself is phenomenal, and coupled with coaching of the highest quality, you can see exactly how the school has acquired its reputation. No amount of talent or high level one-to-one coaching, however, can succeed without a quality surface on which to show off skills, and the man }

in charge of managing the sports surfaces, as well as maintaining the fantastic gardens around the school grounds, is Craig Richardson, Head of Grounds and Gardens.

“The brilliance of this school is that we pretty much cover every sport. It’s not just football and rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer, we’ve got grass tennis courts, we’ve got golf, we’ve got equestrian, the list goes on. Up until this year we had our own polo pitch and we still have an annual polo event. It’s a fantastic spectacle,” said Craig, in his calm north east accent.

With such a range of sports for which to provide surfaces, the entire site is 240 acres, Craig is fortunate to have a strong team of over 20 whose goal, set by Craig, is akin to those goals set for the elite sportsmen and women who are lucky enough to attend the school.

“We try to maintain our sports surfaces as close to professional surfaces as we can. There are going to be constraints because of time and also finance, but that is what we try to do.

“And we try to take it one stage further because, rather than just look for those standards for the first team pitches, we want to make all of our pitches to the

same standard. So, whether it’s the under 15 Cs or the A team, I believe they should be playing on the same standard of surface.

“That is what we aspire to. Do, we get it right all the time? Probably not, but that’s our goal,” explained Craig.

The school, in the village of Street, was founded in 1935, a mere stripling alongside some of the country’s public schools but in those 88 years its sporting claims to fame has been unmatched. Where else, for example, could boast of having been represented at every Olympic Games since 1956.

Indeed, at the Rio Games in 2016, eight Millfieldians took part and won a total of four medals, in rowing, swimming and rugby sevens. Go back to the London Games in 2012 and Millfield was the most represented UK school.

There are 130 sports coaches on staff who oversee 24 different sports including, in alphabetical order, athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, clay shooting, cricket, cross country, dance, equestrian, fencing, football, golf, hockey, karate, modern pentathlon, netball, rowing, rugby, skiing racing, squash, swimming tennis, trampolining and triathlon.

There is one word for that stable of sporting opportunity – WOW!

Facilities include, a 50 metre swimming pool, the equestrian centre, sports halls, cricket nets, putting green, squash courts, water based hockey pitch, outdoor tennis courts, netball courts and a nine-hole golf course.

Definitely spoiled for choice!

And it’s not just in sport which Millfield has produced the goods. The world of entertainment can look to the school for producing some if its biggest stars – Lily Allen, Tony Blackburn, Sophie Dahl, and Rose Leslie, among a host of others,

saw the firm foundations of their careers built at Millfield. The current Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, is a former pupil.

“There are so many talented people at the school and it is good to be in and around it,” said Craig, who recently watch the school’s long jump record being broken by one of the girls.

Despite having risen to the top echelons of grounds management Craig was actually a late starter. He spent the early part of his adult life in the casino business, where he worked around the world before a yearning for a career which would expose him to a little more sunlight.

“I was playing a lot of golf between contracts, and saw the opportunity to do something different with my life,” he recalled.

He approached a local college and they found him a work placement at Woodspring Golf Club, in Bristol, where he was lucky enough to find Course Manager, Steve Chappell, there to mentor him. Steve went on to be Head Greenkeeper at Gleneagles for the Ryder Cup in 2014 and is now a Course Manager in Slovenia.

“He was great to work for and we had a young team which produced some very good surfaces.”

Having cut his teeth on golf he then moved to Ashton Gate, home of Bristol City Football Club, where he spent 15 years.

“I remember I started two days after 9/11 in 2001 working under Martin Plumley, who was Grounds Manager. When he moved on a year later I took on the Head Groundsman’s job. At that time we just had the stadium to look after, but I then took on the responsibility for the training pitches at Clifton College.

“We then build a training ground

THERE ARE 130 SPORTS COACHES ON STAFF WHO OVERSEE 24 DIFFERENT SPORTS… THERE IS ONE WORD FOR THAT STABLE OF SPORTING OPPORTUNITY – WOW!

next door and helped level an area for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital School to enable them to create more sports fields before taking on a management contract from the school to look after the facilities.”

Towards the end of his time with Bristol City he had taken on the role of Head of Operations.

“It was amazing really. We were developing three stands at the ground and it was very exciting to be involved with the club. But then the job at Millfield came up. I had a great job at Bristol City and it took a lot to get me to move but with everything the school had to offer it was too great an opportunity to miss.”

As everyone knows, the trick is when starting a new job isto make a good impression early and Craig knew what he wanted to do. Using renovation techniques he’d learned at Bristol City from people including Premier Pitches he introduced new practices which had an immediate impact on the school’s playing surfaces.

“I was lucky that there was a good budget in place and we were able to buy a fraise mower, a disc seeder and a top dresser while we already had a fleet of tractors and the manpower to carry out the work that I wanted to do. The pitches had never been fraise mown before, but it was something that I knew would bring about significant improvement.

“We also installed drainage and irrigation into a number of pitches and we now take the top off every pitch every year and top dress. We’ve fraise mown the cricket square for the last three or four years and this year is probably the best we have had them.

“It has allowed us to do our renovations in-house and so we have been able to improve our

surfaces and protect the investment that has gone into the pitches

“Hopefully the school appreciates that and the children can appreciate what they have here when they go to other venues which perhaps don’t drain as well and perform a little bit differently.”

Standards across industry are rising all the time and expectation levels rise accordingly, but any pressure to clear the bar at a school which demands the highest standards is handled with a degree of sensible.

“I don’t think the pressure weighs on us. You can only do what you can do. We are limited with the soils that we have, the drainage that we have, the irrigation that we have and the finances that we have.

“We are not a premier league

football club which can spend a lot of money on fertilisers and the latest technology etc, but seeing what can be achieved does give us something to shoot at – we should be trying to improve ourselves and improve the surfaces that we have to look after.”

It would take a very experienced eye to blind test successfully any Millfield pitch against the pitch of a professional team in a range of sports, so Craig and his talented team of groundsmen and gardeners are an extremely good fit for a school where striving for excellence is a non-negotiable.

For me I left the school still regretting that I hadn’t been fortunate enough to have attended but just wondering how many more pupils they would attract if they offered quidditch on the curriculum?

“WE ALSO INSTALLED DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION INTO A NUMBER OF PITCHES AND WE NOW TAKE THE TOP OFF EVERY PITCH EVERY YEAR AND TOP DRESS. WE’VE FRAISE MOWN THE CRICKET SQUARE FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND THIS YEAR IS PROBABLY THE BEST WE HAVE HAD THEM.”

Multiple benefits of new compacts

There was a time that whenever you visited a golf club or sports facility you’d find an old faithful tractor in the sheds. It probably still worked but was retained because of emotional attachment rather than its ability to pay its way.

There is no doubt tractors can get you that way.

“Tractor” or more precisely “Tacta” was among the first words I uttered, much to the dismay of the family members I snubbed in the process.

But such is the speed of development of tractors, and in particular compact tractors, those who have hung on to older models at the expense of purchasing the latest versions, are staggered by what a brand new tractor brings to the party.

Air conditioned cabs, GPS control, comfy

seats, quadrophonic speaker systems, not to mention emission rates to keep even the most ardent eco warriors onside.

The flexibility they bring is also a massive advantage at a time when equipment and machinery needs to pull its weight and with the pto systems a good compact tractor can accompany so many vital pieces of turf maintenance machinery and cut down the need for expensive self-propelled machinery.

What I also love is that every brand of tractor has its own distinctive colour making them so easy to identify from a distance. Not for tractors the option of any one of a pallet of colours. You know what you get before you set foot in the show room and I think that’s great!

KIOTI’s innovative features enhance operator comfort and efficiency

Designed to provide superior operator comfort and optimise operational efficiency, KIOTI CK and DK compact tractors can take away the stress of carrying out tasks such mowing and verti-draining within the turf maintenance sector.

All KIOTI CK and DK compact tractors boast an Auto PTO system, which can be engaged with the touch of a switch. This system automatically stops the rear power take-off (PTO) and the implement from working when the implement is raised to a predetermined height.

The PTO is reengaged when the rear linkage is lowered, streamlining operations and saving valuable time.

In addition, the tractors come equipped with PTO Cruise, a stress free function that allows operators to set the engine RPM at the press of a switch. This ensures a constant engine and PTO speed, with the flexibility to adjust the speed up or down by 50 RPM as required.

The PTO Cruise is temporarily disengaged when the brake pedal is pressed, and it can be quickly brought back up to speed by pressing the ‘Res’ button when the implement is ready to resume work. This feature eliminates the need for operators to manually set the engine speed using the hand throttle every time and is available as an option on all CK tractors and open platform DK tractors, while being a standard feature on cabin DK tractors.

Furthermore, the incorporation of Cruise Control technology in the tractors adds an extra layer of convenience for operators. With hydrostatic transmissions maintaining a specific forward speed can be challenging, as it requires continuous pressure on the forward pedal. The Cruise Control feature, activated with a simple

switch press, maintains the current forward speed without the need for constant pedal pressure, enhancing operational efficiency. Cruise Control is available on all HST tractors.

The CK and DK compact tractors are available in various models to suit different power requirements, ranging from 24.8 to 58.5 horsepower. These tractors are powered by KIOTI’s stage V compliant diesel engines, ensuring optimal performance while adhering to environmental standards. Customers can choose between open platform or air-conditioned cabin options, as well as manual or HST hydrostatic transmissions, providing flexibility to meet individual needs.

The compact size, power, and impressive specifications of the CK and DK tractors make them an ideal choice for professional sports turf maintenance and larger commercial estate management applications. Whether it’s enhancing manoeuverability with Auto PTO, maintaining consistent engine and PTO speeds with PTO Cruise, or enjoying the convenience of Cruise Control, KIOTI compact tractors offer unmatched operator comfort and efficiency.

n www.kioti-uk.com

Menai tractors join the Etesia family

Menai Tractors, based in North-West Wales, has been appointed as a new Etesia dealer and will be distributing Etesia’s complete product range which includes ride-on mowers, scarifiers, brush cutters, green technology and pedestrian mowers.

Founded by Robert Wyn Jones and his wife Gillian in 2007, Menai Tractors specialises in groundcare and agricultural machinery. Since its creation it has gained an excellent reputation for delivering a firstclass service to its customers.

Robert believes that the Etesia brand is a strong addition to its extensive portfolio.

“Whenever I speak to someone who

has previous experience of using Etesia machinery, they do not have one bad to say about them,” he said.

“They are well built; the quality is second to none and I genuinely think the company is one step ahead of everyone else.

“I would point anyone who is interested in Etesia towards the reliability of the machinery and the quality of cut. It doesn’t matter how tall or wet the grass is – it goes straight through it every time.”

Specialists in manufacturing high quality grass cutting machinery for both the professional and domestic market, Etesia’s extensive range of products have been in

consistent high demand for a number of years. It is for this reason that the company’s vast dealer network continues to grow. From the UK to Ireland, Etesia dealers are providing their customers with innovative solutions for their green space requirements.

“We’ve already sold a few of the Etesia ride-on mowers I think the next 12-24 months are going to be very interesting. I have no doubt that the Etesia brand will be very popular with our customers, especially the local authorities. We deal with several caravan parks too and I think it will strike a chord with them too.” n www.etesia.co.uk

Save maintenance costs with fewer wearing parts

The CS Pro is a multi-purpose mower for compact tractors in the 20hp to 35hp range. The patented mulching blade system delivers an exceptional

finish in everyday mowing and jobs requiring a superior after cut appearance. Heavy duty gearboxes power multiple rotors for reliable mowing in a in dense vegetation as well as estate lawns and sports turf.

The MJ65-300 CS Pro takes as little as 30hp to power, making ideal for use with a subcompact or smaller utility tractor. The 3.0m wide machine has two wings folding up to 2.0m transport width. Four rotors and 16 blades deliver intense shredding in light and heavy material. Full width rollers on each deck follows ground contours while producing a striped effect without scalping. Cutting height is easily set between 15 and 100mm.

A major advantage of the gearbox driveline is the low maintenance and ease of operation. With fewer wearing parts than a flail mower,

owners can save significantly on maintenance costs and operating downtimes. These are important factors for Celtic Turf in Cornwall, who supply turf to commercial, tourism and residential clients all over Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly. The galvanised finish is especially useful when working in coastal climates around the South West.

Sports turf contractor Parkers Pitches was drawn to the pristine finish and reliability of the CS Pro. Important considerations for their partnership with the Suffolk FA and IOG on the Grassroots Pitch Programme for football in Suffolk.

The versatility of the CS Pro means Jockey Club Estates can use one machine for nearly all its turf needs at the training grounds in Epsom. n www.major-equipment.com

TURF

People with something to say, say it on the Turf Matters YouTube channel

Go to YouTube. com, search for ‘Turf Matters’ and find out why we’re our industry’s most watched channel. New, views, glimpses behind the scenes and opinions from those at grass roots level, to those at the top of their game.

More than a magazine… our cameras search out and bring you stories from across the UK Because Turf Matters…

Ventrac: The most versatile of compact tractors

Rupert Price is the Managing Director of Price Turfcare, the UK importers of the Ventrac compact tractor, which in his opinion is the most versatile machine for grounds management applications.

“As you would expect I’m biased towards the use of compact tractors as it’s my core business, but our equipment has the major advantage of being extremely versatile. Ventrac’s range of attachments are designed to fit perfectly with the tractor unit, easily and with minimal downtime.

“As far as technology is concerned, Ventrac products are quite basic and for a good reason. They are very simple to operate, user-friendly and that’s one of their

attractions. We do have slope meters for safety reasons, but apart from that and some quick couplings for the hydraulicdriven accessories, that’s about it.

“With compact tractors comes versatility; they can be fitted with numerous attachments and our Ventracs can swap between implements in less than a minute, due to their unique mounting system. If you can change that quickly, then it’s more likely that you will! If it takes an age to mount implements, there’s a danger that your tractor and chosen implement becomes a ‘one-trick pony’ because it’s too bothersome and time-consuming to swap out one attachment for another.

“We have more than 30 different attachments, so the new Ventrac 4520 is undoubtedly one of the most versatile compact tractors on the market today. It can be used as a mower, with seven different mowing decks for various types of turf or as a trencher, aerator, stump grinder, edger, leaf blower, snow blower, snow plough, gritter and more, so there is no reason why it cannot be used all year round.”

n www.priceturfcare.com

its

Petrol-matching power without the noise, vibrations or fumes. A range of batterypowered equipment with market leading four-year commercial warranty on all batteries.

Compiled by Summer Rogers

Where do you think a turf manager sits in status in the eyes of the general public?

It has improved over recent years. I still don’t think it is where it should be regarding the work hours and the skill you need for this job. Social media has helped a lot, and people like Karl Standley and John Ledwidge have helped to promote the industry. Unfortunately, I don’t think the guys at grass roots level get the recognition they deserve.

Are you considered an “equal” by those people on a similar level in different departments?

100%. I can’t speak for any other club, and I do know people who don’t feel an equal. However, at Dartford I am on an even playing field with everyone. I am constantly in contact with the Operations Manager and different members of staff and the manager is behind me.

What needs to happen to assist the turning of the job of turf maintenance into that of a true profession?

Education. It is all about educating people that don’t understand our job. Many people think we just cut the pitch and mark the lines and even people in the football world, see it this way. I get the fact that they don’t see what we do daily, because no one really sees the groundsman except for on a match day – so no one sees the work that goes on behind the scenes. Education is the key to developing our industry.

What are the best things about working in turf management?

Being outdoors. I love it, even in the winter. Secondly, I get to be in involved in the game I love. Being near the players, being able to watch the game - the football industry has a different feel to it. It is different to an office job or working on a building site. It feels like we are part of a family.

If you could swap roles with someone in any other area of sports management, what would it be?

I’ll take the England manager’s job please! In terms of sports turf management, and not that I am anywhere near his level or his expertise, but because I am a Tottenham Hotspur FC fan I wouldn’t mind swapping with Darren Baldwin (Head of Playing Surfaces & Estates for Tottenham Hotspur FC). I have a lot of respect for what he’s achieved in his career and for what he has built at the club.

Five years from now…

What do you think will be most noticeable in the job – fewer chemicals, more battery power or more robotics?

The battery-powered products and the robotics are things that need to be looked at but it needs to be made available to grass roots level as well as the top clubs in terms of finances. I know the industry needs to, and is, heading in this direction but people will continue to stick with petrol machinery if they are priced out of battery technology. For me personally, it has got to be more reliable too. From what I understand, even though it is improving every year, the battery life isn’t quite there yet.

If there was one task, you’d love to see the back of in five years’ time, what would it be?

Divotting. If someone could come up with an invention, maybe a robot, to divot the pitch, I would use my salary to buy it. I hate itespecially when I’m by myself. It is the world’s worst job! If someone invents one, they will quickly become a millionaire because every grounds manager would buy one.

In a perfect world, what should the various R&D departments be working on, currently, to give you in five years’ time?

A divotting machine! To be honest I think the machinery is already

there and it is just a case of evolving the machinery we have got. The industry needs to improve from an eco-friendly point of view so I’m sure we will see developments there.

In terms of working conditions, what would you like to see for yourself and your team?

Mental health in the grounds industry needs some support – there needs to be a link, or a place you can go to get help. It is very easy to get too caught up in work, and you can end up doing too much, and then all you think about is the pitch. You will only make yourself ill and worry too much.

Leaving your current workplace aside, if you had a choice if five years’ time, where would you love to be turning up to work, and in whose job?

Since I have left the professional game (Jay used to work for Crystal Palace FC), I have loved being at this level of football. I’ve got my kids around me, and it is perfect. Ten years ago, I would have said head groundsman at Tottenham Hotspur FC, but now I’m not sure if I would want that burden. I have so many benefits working where I am. I have had offers but I’m just not interested.

Jay Berkhauer Head Groundsman for Dartford FC (employed by Jordans Sports Ground Solutions)