Turf Matters July August 2022

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Home sweet home The home of golf is gearing up to host the 150th Open Championship. Scott MacCallum, no stranger to St Andrews himself, finds out how Course Manager Gordon McKie is shaping up for the big event

PLUS

FERTILISERS AND CHEMICALS BATTERIES LEAD CHARGE AGAINST PETROL

EXPO IS H DS ER N U

E!

Power packing a punch

SPORTS & GR O

The appliance of science

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TURF Halting the loss of talent Don’t forget Sport…

Like many other industries, the sports turf industry is suffering from staffing The lastand two months have been nightmare for many people to inwork certain shortages Course Managers andaHead Groundsmen are having parts of the country and my heart goes out to everyone dealing with miracles to produce their usual top quality surfaces with diminished resources. the aftermath of unprecedented flooding and devastating erosion.

It is tough, butcase morescenario than thatfor it is, as Geoff Webb describes, “a ticking time The best many is months of temporary living.

For others, never to surfaces. what they were. bomb” for lives sportswill which relyreturn on grass If sufficient numbers cannot be While the fateto ofmaintain sports grounds and and golf sports clubs pitches, might seem found and retained golf courses the ability to inconsequential in the face of such hardship, we at Turf Matters have play sport on those surfaces may be lost – unacceptably long grass and modern a particular empathy with everyone who has seen years of agronomic day health and safety legislation may make play impossible. husbandry literally washed away in the space of a few weeks.

It must be hoped that are banks – the institutions, not the Neither the GMA or BIGGA sitting onfinancial their hands, with both bodies things which edge overflown – takeother an understanding approach exploring potential solutions and rivers encouraging stakeholder bodies to to sporting facilities which have been unable to service loans as a take whatever action is in their gift. Hopefully that action will work towards result them being unplayable and so unable to bring in revenue. long termofsolutions.

As we have seen with the recent Winter Olympics, sport has such a Turf Matters looks intoonwhat can legitimately be described as aso crisis in this galvanising effect society and can be the catalyst for much good, that it is imperative sporting facilities are not forgotten issue and shines a spotlight on some of the solutions which arewhen beingthe mooted. is being allocated.

And, it’s notpromised all down assistance to higher wages!

On the issue of improving sporting facilities, we have been We have again picked upby major awards in the annual International invited Briggs & Stratton to become involvedTOCA in its Pitch competition. TimtoMoat Best Design for our front cover “Light at the Endfor Winwon competition, which provides a £3,000 makeover of the Tunnel”, also winning the Gardner Award for18s Best in Competition, while what is judged to be the Under football pitch in most needBest – find out more onthe pages 16-17.ofI BT amMurrayfield”. on the judging your Editor collected Writing for “In Shadow panel and visits will be made to a shortlist of deserving Turf Matters has now won Gardner Awards in each of the pitches soon. We will be looking not so much at the competitions since 2019 well as numerous category wins. While DESSO but the as desperate!

Awards are what is more still is reception the great support we Ongreat, a final note, I amgratifying thrilled by the that the receivefirst fromissue the industry fromreceived. our readers. of Turf and Matters Many people have taken time to say how much they liked the look of the Scott MacCallum, Editor 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.

WELCOME

iWelcome

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

Editor: Scott MacCallum Distributed every two months to sports scott@turfmatters.co.uk turf professionals, local authorities Design/Production Editor: Tim and buyers of turfcare machinery andMoat tim@turfmatters.co.uk products.

Customer Editor: ScottRelations MacCallumManager: Sinead Thacker scott@turfmatters.co.uk sinead@turfmatters.co.uk Design and Production Editor: Tim Moat Sales Executive: tim@turfmatters.co.uk Marie Anderson Sales Manager: Pauline Thompson marie@turfmatters.co.uk

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Inside issue Insidethis this issue News..........................................................4-22 News .........................................................4-15 Fertiliser and chemicals...............24-33 Pitch to Win........................................16-17 Open Championship. .....................34-38 Mowing .................................19-22, 24-27 Grass seeds.........................................40-42 Tea Break Teaser ......................................29 Rugby School pitch........................43-45 Gleneagles..........................................30-35 Compact tractors..............................48-50 BTME review ......................................36-41 Recruitment crisis............................52-54 Diary of a Golfing Nobody.................42 Battery powered equipment.....58-62 As seen on Twitter..................................43 Measure of success................................63 Buyers’out Guide. ...................................64-66 Check our .website: The majesty of Gleneagles, pages 30-35 Compact tractors, but ambitious workloads: pages 48-50 Subscribe FREE to our e-zine: Details at www.turfmatters.co.uk

Check out our website: www.turfmatters.co.uk www.turfmatters.co.uk Next magazine distributed 2 May

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NEWS

TRENCHER HIRE’S MAJOR MILESTONE

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Agrovista roadshow has feel-good factor

The fleet of pedestrian trenchers owned by Trencher Hire UK have collectively ‘dug-out’ more than 250,000 feet of trenches over the past 12 months.

“We are one of the leading hirers of these machines in the UK and the demand among householders for garden projects has even surprised ourselves,” said Operations Manager Steve Kingdom, who calculated the figures.

“Most DIY people will only have the need to hire a trencher once, possibly twice in their life, but are becoming more aware of the benefits of using one over a mini-digger. Pedestrian trenchers are easy to operate and our machines can cover trenching depths of between 150mm up to 900mm. They create neat trenches that require minimum effort to backfill and, therefore, leave a low footprint.

“Whether it’s for laying water pipe, drainage pipe or electric cable, we have a machine to meet your requirements.” n www.trencherhire.com

The Agrovista Amenity Academy Roadshow, held at the stunning East Sussex National Golf Club, saw over 70 attendees soak up a memorable day of knowledge, networking, and wellbeing.

Greenkeepers and groundspersons ranging from Course Managers to Apprentices, enhanced their education on a variety of topics tailor-made for those working in the turf management sector.

Danny Negus, Grounds Manager at Devonshire Park, started the day to discuss mental health.

“I thought it was received very well, considering it is a very delicate and personal

subject. It gave me an opportunity to highlight some of the data that I collated last year which enabled me to emphasise the seriousness of wellbeing and mental health in this industry,” said Danny.

“We all need to realise there is not a stigma attached to this and we must look at moving forward in a positive way.”

After Danny’s presentation, the attendees were divided into three smaller groups to diversify the experience of the technical seminars which were to follow.

Alan Pierce, from Aquatrols Europe, was

on hand to discuss the innovative plant technology behind the leading Redox range of nutritional products.

Neil Pullen from Compo Expert offered his expertise on the different forms of slow-release fertilisers.

Agrovista’s Karl Parry offered a glimpse into the online Agrovista Amenity Academy; introduced the latest trial data on BASF’s Attraxor plant growth regulator and also highlighted the benefits of PrecisionPro. You can viiew a highlights video by visiting: https:// youtu.be/oQ-LI46D7MY n www.agrovista. co.uk/amenity

GKB SANDFILLER PRAISED FOR ITS SPEED AND EFFICIENCY Contractors Marc Kerr Limited have praised the GKB Sandfiller for the benefits it brings to surfaces and operator alike. Combining thatch removal and sand injection in one single pass, owner Marc Kerr delivered fast, firm and free-draining greens to almost 30 golf courses during 2021, with the Sandfiller getting the job done in a timely and cost-effective manner for both contractor and the club.

Marc has been using the Sandfiller for the last five years, conducting work at golf courses and bowling clubs nationwide. “Some methods of organic matter management can be really labour intensive and run the risk of taking the 4 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

surfaces out of play, which is not ideal given the year-round demand from the members” he explains. Prior to the Sandfiller, Marc was using another machine which required multiple people to operate and left excess spoil and sand on the green which then had to be manually collected when the job was complete.

“The speed and efficiency of being able to conduct both operations, singlehandedly and leaving a clean and tidy finish was the main reason for the switch.”

The GKB Sandfiller scarifies down to 40mm and creating channels which are simultaneously filled with sand or a combination of sand and seed.

NEWS

Tribute to Barry Huxley Barry Huxley, who founded the Huxley Golf business with his brother Paul in 2000, has died suddenly.

Barry had been a Director of the Huxley family business Huxley (UK) Ltd for over 50 years, before its transfer to an Employee Owned Trust in 2020. The business was started in 1946 by Barry’s and Paul’s father, Ted Huxley, who began selling Allen Motor Scythe grasscutters in London and the home counties when he was demobbed after war service in the RAF and Fleet Air Arm flying Spitfires and Seafires.

Until 2000, The Huxley Grass Machinery business manufactured and supplied commercial grass cutting and turf maintenance machinery to golf courses and sports grounds throughout the UK and overseas as far away as Japan.

Barry joined the family business in 1970, after an apprenticeship at Ransomes, in Ipswich, to learn about the manufacture, servicing and sales of mowing machinery.

The firm continued to prosper, introduced the Cushman Turf Care System to this country in 1975 and began to develop and manufacture its own range of Huxley mowers, turf care implements and trucks.

When the Huxley Grass Machinery business was sold in 2000, Barry and his brother Paul started the Huxley Golf business, having spotted the need for low maintenance, realistic and innovative all-weather golf surfaces.

It was clear from the start that high quality installation was key to the new business and Barry led from the front.

No boundaries for Baroness It’s a recognised fact in cricket that a good groundsman wins matches and is as much a part of the side as a pacy seam bowler or a gifted spinner. After more than 20 years in the game and winning a good few awards along the way, Simon Lee, Head Groundsman at the Ageas Bowl home of Hampshire CC, for the past two years, knows his craft supremely well.

He also knows a thing or two about the equipment he needs to keep his wickets and wider grounds up to international standard.

The arrival of Baroness mowers in the Ageas fleet on the outskirts of Southampton is, therefore, a significant accolade for a brand that has become a favourite on many golf courses across the UK.

“I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THE BARONESS MACHINES ARE ENGINEERED…”

6 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

Now regarded as one of the best cricket grounds in the country, the Ageas Bowl has taken delivery of three Baroness machines from Lister Wilder in recent months. Simon and his team have a five-unit mid-weight LM551B for outfields and an LM56GC pedestrian cylinder mower for pitch preparation.

Meanwhile, the Boundary Lakes golf course that is another key element of the wider Ageas leisure offering has a three-unit LM315 greens mower.

The decision to opt for Baroness was one that Simon did not take lightly.

“I spoke to other top-level groundsmen and it came highly recommended by others who have had experience of using them.

You can read all you like about grass cutting machinery but when the verdict comes from someone you trust then you know you are making a good decision,” he explained.

“When we demoed the machines, we found the Baroness mowers were cutting tighter

and neater than the competition and giving us better presentation at the same level of cut.”

The reality of living with the new machines has matched up to the promise from the demo.

“It isn’t just the quality of the cut that everyone talks about and how long the cut lasts. I really like the way the Baroness machines are engineered.

That makes life a lot easier for me in managing the whole process.”

Common to all the Baroness machines is the approach to the cutting cylinders, which are individually balanced before being installed and with a heat treatment process ensuring that the cutting edges of both cutting cylinders and bed-knives stay sharp and true.

The LM551B with its 45hp Kubota engine is equipped with a 22-inch standard reel along with optional mower units and accessories, allowing users to create the best configuration to meet their own turf conditions. n www.baronessuk.com

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Greens rollers from Smithco There’s no finer sports turf than that found on golf greens and for discerning

8 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

golfers 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 Stimpmeter. Perhaps less well known is that this effect will last on the green for up to 48 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 stateof-the-art Star Command 3.0 ensures a precise application every time.

Superior construction materials combine to ensure industry-leading longevity.

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

NEWS

Is this the biggest Jubilee logo ever?

Fleet created this massive Queen’s Platinum Jubilee logo at Malvern Rugby Club for the recent celebrations.

The overall size of the painting was 60m x 40m.

The work was carried out by Iain Courage, Chris Bridges, Simon Moore and Ali Stavert, with colleague, Shoaib helping out one afternoon.

Work started on Monday morning at 9am and finished mid morning on Wednesday.

The contribution to the celebrations appeared on national TV with Bob Warman, of Central ITV News, saying “it must be the biggest one around!”

10 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

MAKING TURF MATTER

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Ground printing success GroundWOW autonomous ground printing robots have become a regular player at Stockport County FC with their ongoing partnership based at the club’s iconic address, Edgeley Park.

The club have been taking advantage of the creative opportunities unlocked by GroundWOW, from activating their pitch-side run-off area to patriotic on-pitch prints for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

GroundWOW’s most recent activations saw giant Freddie Mercury silhouettes printed beside the stage at a Queen tribute concert and a highresolution side profile of the Queen in honour of the Platinum Jubilee.

The prints were all created in a tight operational window together with the live concert installation, the stage builders did their thing while GroundWOW robots printed alongside. The silhouettes were paired with matching word marks,

‘Queen’ for the Freddie’s and ‘God Save The Queen’ printed in red, white and blue across the pitch next to the side profile of the Queen.

The activations at GroundWOW’s nearest footballing neighbour were an opportunity to showcase the SFX Max, their new iteration designed specifically for touchline activations. The Max delivers prints in full colour, up to 3m wide and at an unlimited length.

GroundWOW aims to be the world’s most environmentally conscious and low-cost-efficient electric ground marking vehicle. Being conscious of their carbon footprint has been a big driver since day one and the robots have been created with environmental impacts in mind. The paint is turf, animal and human safe, and the choices of materials and power source were all made with a carbon conscious outcome very much in mind.

Science has also massively assisted

the after-event process given the transformational efficiency robots are bringing to paint deposition.

Printing on only the top section of the blades of grass, the Stockport prints were removed just as easily as they were put down. Whether it’s artificial or real turf, GroundWOW prints are non-permanent and can be removed by jet washing off or allowing the turf to grow and then mowing over it. This means the same patch of land can be used repeatedly without any long-term damage.

TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 11

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Government responds to GMA’s Red Diesel concern HM Treasury has responded to the Grounds Management Association’s recent letter calling for a change to the guidance on rebated fuels entitlement.

Within two weeks of receiving the GMA’s letter, HMRC updated its guidance on “Using rebated fuels in vehicles and machines”, to add ‘land maintained by a community amateur sports’ to the list of those able to use red diesel following the regulatory change on 1 April 2022.

The GMA welcomes this clarification but has concerns that although this is good news for Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) registered with HMRC, it falls far short of benefitting the wider sporting community.

“The HMRC’s policy reform

12 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA

paper made clear in its impact statement that there would not be a withdrawal of an entitlement to use red diesel in areas such as sports, yet the guidance does not reflect that commitment,” said Geoff Webb GMA CEO “We are delighted that the HMRC has updated its guidance to make clear that amateur

sports clubs can continue to benefit from the fuel rebate. This will benefit over 7,300 clubs.

“But it doesn’t go far enough as education establishments, professional sports clubs, and the many contractors who maintain sports and leisure grounds across different settings will be hit hard in the pocket at a time when they are facing significant cost increases.

“We will continue to engage with policymakers to seek an exemption for all sports and not just the few.

These businesses need sufficient lead time to phase out equipment that uses red diesel to power specialist vehicles and machinery, and we will continue to push the case across all sports at all levels for a reinstatement of the entitlement.”

NEWS

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Art is now a science with Soil Scout sensors

Golf courses around the world are saving time, money and water by using permanently buried wireless soil monitoring sensors from Soil Scout.

The unique soil condition sensor gives greenkeepers real-time soil moisture, temperature and salinity data, available 24/7 accessible on smart phones and devices.

Soil Scout’s Head of Creative Content, James Baylis, speaks to some leading greenkeepers from to ask how they are utilising the Soil Scout system.

Course Manager John McLoughlin is in charge of his first-ever links course at Wallasey Golf Club, and for John, Soil Scout is about so much more than just what he can save on resources.

“What drew me to Soil Scout is the

“WE NEED TO PRODUCE A QUALITY GOLF COURSE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND WE’RE SEEING THAT MORE WITH THE DATA NOW AVAILABLE ON YOUR PHONE” 14 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

live data you get every 20 minutes.

Having that at your fingertips is unique in the industry, and it was something that by putting the sensors in, we could fine-tune our moisture management very quickly.

“I also think it’s quite nice to feel like you’re in control. So when you’re at home and going through a dry spell, for peace of mind, it’s great.

There is an aspect of mental health within the industry and managing that. There can be times when the greens are drying out or getting too wet, and being able to check that takes a lot of pressure off you.”

In Germany, Erwan Le Cocq, Greenkeeping / Robot and Technology Specialist at WINSTONgolf, operates both underground with Soil Scout sensors and in the sky with drone flights.

“The problem we have is we can’t work on feeling because everyone has a different feeling. When I talk with my boss, he might have a different opinion than me; he might think the issue isn’t that big but having an actual number means we have hard data. It makes it the same for everyone. When we see a number, we know what it means, and we can all work with the same idea, and the feeling is left out so we can work more efficiently and have a better result at the end of the day.

“Making data collection automatic means you don’t spend time on it anymore, so you can only benefit from it. That’s the case with Soil Scout; I don’t spend time collecting because it’s always up to date on my phone, so it can only save me something, whether that is time planning irrigation, money on products or time planning maintenance, and not only for me, but all our team! Supervisor, team coach, irrigation technician and greenkeepers. Everyone can access our up-to-date readings, anywhere, at any time!”

Across the pond, Golf Course Superintendent Ryan Walsh, from Woods Hole Golf Clu,b in Massachusetts uses his scouts to help fine tune the

firmness of the fairways.

“Monitoring our Soil Scout data has helped us challenge the status quo for course condition-ing. The nine scouts that we have on the property allow us to time our applications with the soil temps that are available at the click of a button. Instead of probing around multiple times a day, we save a lot of time and accuracy.

At Woods Hole, we have a unique property, it’s very steep hills lead to common collection areas. Heavy rains race down the hills and create a wet situation at the bases. With the use of this data, we can fine tune the firmness of the fairways through water use efficiency, enhancing our membership’s experience.”

Back in the UK, Angus Macleod, Director of Golf Courses and Estates at The Belfry, has had Soil Scout sensors deployed on his course for over 18 months now.

“Greenkeeping has moved on.

There’s a lot more data collection now. Greenkeeping has always been an art, but now it’s a science.

“We need to produce a quality golf course every single day. And we’re seeing that more with the data now available on your phone. For example, by using Soil Scout’s sensors, we can make the right judgement call at the right time of the year, meaning we can now plan how we organise and manage the team, adding products and agents to the course, and then presenting our progress to our owners.” n www. soilscout.com Angus Macleod: “Greenkeeping has moved on.”

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Tribute to Peter Britton One of the most popular and well known figures within the industry, Peter Britton, has died.

Peter worked for Pitchcare since 2005, using his expertise in both Sales and Production to great effect, while, showing his genuine versatility, he also wrote articles for the magazine.

He was a regular attendee of both BTME and SALTEX and was always someone who could be relied upon to

ask knowledgeable and thoughtful questions at press conferences.

While we all worked for different industry titles Peter was always of the mind that we were colleagues rather than rivals and was quick to give credit if he felt something had been done well by someone from another magazine.

All at Turf Matters offer condolences to Peter’s family and everyone at Pitchcare.

Toro opens new visitor centre – and names it after founder of Hayter mowers JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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ANY PLACE, ANY TIME, ANY DEVICE 16 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

Toro UK have opened a visitor centre at their Spellbrook factory in Hertfordshire.

After significant investment, an old agricultural building based by their test fields has been converted into a multi-functional visitor centre, which includes a kitchen, toilets, Wi-Fi and full audio visual facilities.

Capable of holding small intimate meetings to large events, the building will give the opportunity for Toro to welcome more groups to the site, including customers and Dealers from both the UK and Europe.

In honor of the founder of Hayter mowers, Toro UK have named the building the “Douglas Hayter Visitor Centre” and have added various nods to the site’s history in the form of a history wall, display cabinets and even some heritage and special edition machines.

Toro UK combined the launch of the visitor centre with a celebration for staff of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Having held a Royal Warrant for supplying Her Majesty the Queen since the 60s, it

was especially important for the Toro UK team to celebrate this occasion.

“This visitor centre provides Toro with a really useful space to host and interact with our Dealers and customers.

From training to new product development, this visitor centre will be vital to growing our business in the UK” said Craig Hoare, Sales & Marketing Manager.

“There was only ever one choice, when it came to naming the building and I am so pleased we have been able to honour Doug Hayter, the man who started it all and to be able to bring some of our history into the building.”

The first official Customer event to be held in the new Visitor Centre will be the Toro UK Dealer days in September, where Dealers will get to tour the factory and see the new ranges for the 2023 season.

“A REALLY USEFUL SPACE TO HOST AND INTERACT.”

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Made for every slope Cub Cadet has created the industry’s strongest line up of zero-turn riders – whether you are a landscape professional looking for a machine that can handle any terrain or a small business owner looking for a machine for your customers large lawn maintenance.

The new top of the range Z9 183id zero-turn, proven by landscape professionals, will fulfil all commercial requirements.

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

The ability to control all four wheels with a steering wheel

IT POWERS THROUGH THE THICKEST GRASS IN ONE PASS AT MAXIMUM SPEEDS OF UP TO 12MPH MEANING YOU CAN DO THE JOB QUICKER. 18 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

and steerable front wheels, an exclusive offering by Cub Cadet in the commercial sector, minimises the turf being churned up by the wheels. The patented SyncroSteer technology means that even the less experienced operators can benefit from the ease of use and amazing manoeuvrability of this machine.

The Z9 reduces mowing time by up to 10% compared to lap bar mowers, provides greater hillside stability, 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 Kawasaki EFI engine provides the consistent power you need to get the job done and maximise your 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 you the ability to operate all day.

The award-winning design of the XZ7 L152i redefines the zeroturn mowing experience – with enhanced strength, re-imagined comfort and a best-in-class cut.

With a large cutting width of 60”/152cm, the machine puts owner/ operator comfort at the forefront of its design with a premium high-back seat with armrests and adjustable suspension for fatigue-free working.

It is ideal for mowing rolling hills, with its outstanding stability on slopes, and around obstacles, with its effortless manoeuvrability.

Even on the most difficult lawns the spring-mounted suspension on the front wheels ensure a smooth ride with less vibration.

The new models in the XZ6 range give unmatched steering capabilities in challenging terrains.

The industry-leading SyncroSteer technology for full control of the front wheels, combined with powerful Cub Cadet and Kawasaki engines makes the XZ6 series the ideal machines for large lawn maintenance if you prefer the ease of a steering wheel.

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It’s a perfect fit for Barry Littleport Bowls Club is unusually situated in the centre of a large housing estate, so any new equipment must tick three key boxes according to groundsman Barry Greatbatch.

Barry, who works alongside

Head Groundsman David Page, has been helping to maintain the Clubs’ 2,025m2 green for 12 years and feels the Club is now in a good position again following a difficult couple of years during the Covid pandemic.

“It’s been a challenging time for the Club and its members and, given that we’re quite a small club and the staff here are all unpaid volunteers, the purchase of any ground-care equipment is generally done with three things in mind – efficiency, affordability and noise levels.

“The estate has literally grown up around us over the years so it’s important we get on well with our neighbours and that means being considerate and using low decibel emitting machines wherever possible.

“In 2019 our previous 30-year-old sprayer was coming to the end of its working life, so we approached local manufacturer Techneat Engineering

for ideas on a replacement. Our call proved timely as the company had begun work on a new design for the Acuspray Solo, a lightweight pedestrian sprayer for turf-care that offered accurate spray coverage.

“Allowing the company to trial their prototype at our Club, we eventually purchased the first Acuspray Solo off the production line, and it’s certainly been a good investment.

“The very low decibel emissions are a big plus, meaning we can use the machine early in the morning before members arrive and even in the evening, if required. We’ve made two modifications since purchase, lowering the boom by 15cms to reduce spray drift on windy days and mounting a new plug-in charging point at the rear of the sprayer tank which saves time removing the battery from the machine when recharging,” explained Barry.

For hire: A ‘greener’ solution to weed control and other benefits Weedingtech, developers of the world-leading herbicide-free weed control product Foamstream, have announced the launch of a brandnew rental service - available to customers throughout the UK. The introduction of the new hire programme provides an opportunity for people to quickly and easily discover the environmentallyfriendly Foamstream solution for complete weed and moss control, eliminating the sometimes lengthy and complex capital procurement process.

Since its launch in 2011, Foamstream has redefined nonherbicidal vegetation control. Its patented low-pressure process combines hot water and a biodegradable foam, made from natural plant oils and sugars, which acts as an ‘insulation blanket’ to retain the heat and keep the water in the ‘kill zone’ for longer.

In addition to eradicating the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores that haven’t yet germinated, providing 20 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

a long-lasting solution that is safe to use around people, animals and sensitive environments including water courses.

A recent study into the overall efficiency of Foamstream, conducted by the University of Athens, concluded that its performance was comparable to that of Glyphosate, and it appeared to surpass the results of a number of other nonchemical methods which only provided a moderate level of weed

control. Effective and easy to apply, Foamstream is delivered through one of Weedingtech’s industry-leading machines.

The range is mountable on an array of vehicles and UTVs and encapsulates different power options to deliver the perfect combination to meet the requirements of clients in all areas of grounds and green space management.

The new rental package includes 100L of the organically-certified foam, the latest high-specification machinery and full technical training for a set weekly rate. In addition, an information of things (IOT) tracker is included as standard, to provide accurate measurement of output and ongoing remote support.

Not only does this new service provide a cost-effective option to those looking for a ‘greener’ solution to weed control, the Foamstream machines can deliver additional value when used for other outdoor cleaning tasks such as gum removal, power washing and sanitisation. n www.weedingtech.com

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Maintenance tools from Turfco Turfco turf maintenance equipment is ideal for turf management with a range of topdressing, blowers and overseeding machines, which can be tractor-mounted and towed-behind a suitable transport unit. They are ideal for recreational and professional sports pitches, stadium pitches, cricket outfields and most fine turf areas on golf courses.

WideSpin 1550 topdressers are

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available in truck-mounted and towbehind models with petrol engine or hydraulic power options. They are available with standard electronic control or a patented digital Smart Controller.

The TriWave 60 and TriWave 45 are a new breed of overseeder that can significantly increase the success of overseeding operations by up to 30%, especially on contoured ground.

Disruption of existing turf, the inability to follow ground contours and limited seed germination when using existing equipment, was the driving force behind this development.

WaveBlade counter-rotating blade technology creates a U-shaped

slit providing more seed to soil contact and the patented seed delivery system places seeds into the slits without waste, increasing germination.

The TriWave 45 is a self-contained trailed overseeder, which can be towed behind a utility vehicle, quad bike, bunker rake or tractor, and provides versatility and easiest operation of any overseeder on the market. Power comes from an 25 hp Briggs and Stratton Vanguard petrol engine and it quickly attaches to most turf vehicles making it convenient and efficient to use.

Turfco’s Torrent 2 is powerful allpurpose blower, available in tow-behind or tractor-mounted pto-driven formats and delivering unprecedented control over air speed, air direction, noise management and fuel consumption. This is a precision clean-up tool that can used year-round.

Built on a heavy-duty frame with a rugged draw bar and adjustable hitch the Torrent 2 is designed for durability.

The one-piece nozzle is made of impact resistant molded polyethylene. n jmoore@turfco.com

TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 23

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Taking the stress out of turf I

nvesting in independent trials gives Bayer Environmental Science customers peace of mind for summer and beyond Since 2002, the UK has seen the ten hottest summers on record and undoubtedly this has placed a higher stress burden on turf.

Fine turf surfaces such as golf and bowls greens are particularly susceptible to stress during prolonged hot and dry periods. There is a decline in turf quality, aesthetics and playability of the surface. Therefore, turf professionals need a solution they can trust to deal with the problem effectively.

That’s why Bayer Environmental Science turned to the STRI to provide independent trials for their Signature Xtra (for use in

“WE CHOSE TO WORK WITH STRI TO TRIAL SIGNATURE XTRA AND EXTERIS STRESSGARD TO ADD WEIGHT TO WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW” 24 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

Ireland) and Exteris Stressgard products.

“We chose to work with STRI to trial Signature Xtra and Exteris Stressgard to add weight to what we already knew – that they offer great preventative, and early curative disease solutions for turf during the Summer, as well as further protection against disease later in the year,” said Dr Colin Mumford, Technical Support Manager at Bayer.

The extensive trials, carried out over two years and completing in 2020 demonstrated that the damaging effects of heat stress can be reduced with applications of Signature Xtra or Exteris Stressgard.

The trials, which ran between June and August, found that those plots treated with the products had the greatest turf density and a 10% better live ground cover, compared to the untreated plots. There were a number of other benefits found too including improved turf colour and root length. They encouraged stronger, more vigorous plants and gave protection against harmful UVA and UVB radiation.

These benefits promote stronger plant health, enabling the turf to better withstand attack from turf disease pathogens and the hostile environment that summer weather conditions can produce.

Bayer works with STRI, a leading sports turf consultancy to conduct the trials. The team are experts, with a thorough understanding and knowledge of plant protection products.

“When working with STRI we know that the trials will be executed in accordance with the trial protocols that we agree with them. There will also be consistency in their evaluations, as each member of the STRI trials team is trained to assess trials to the same standard,” explained Colin “All trials conducted are replicated, which means there are typically four replicates of each treatment being assessed. This is important because we can see how consistent the product performs, seeing if there is any variability between applications and it also allows us to have confidence in the results – which we can then extend to our customers.”

The trials look at a number of different factors, including disease control or suppression, turf density, colour and quality. They have a range of playing surface construction profiles, so they can tailor the trials to specific needs and it’s possible to conduct side-by-side comparisons with a range of products at the same time on their trial plots.

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FERTILISER AND CHEMICALS

Addition to Compo range B

asfoliar Black is a new addition to the very successful Compo Expert Basfoliar range of liquid fertilisers and Biostimulants.

Basfoliar Black increases the ability of plants to deal with abiotic stress. The 7.5% Humic acid will help retain nutrient ions, thus preventing them from leaching while increasing germination rates and fibrous root development. The 7.6% Fulvic acid promotes carbohydrates and increases the accumulation of soluble sugars in the cell, this helps the plant to deal with drought stress. It is also rich in organic substances essential for the healthy function of soil structure, soil biology and turf.

Humic Acids are medium-sized molecules that possess a high cumulative surface area.

They function as essential ion exchange and chelation agents because other elements readily bind to them in a way that can be easily absorbed by turf roots. The impact of humic acid in the soil normally is illustrated with increased cation exchange capacity (CEC). As humic acid naturally degrades over time, they become fulvic acid.

Humic products are most commonly but not exclusively derived from Leonardite.

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Leonardite is a soft waxy, black or brown, shiny, vitreous mineraloid that is easily soluble in alkaline solutions. It is an oxidation product of lignite, associated with near-surface mining It is a rich source of humic acid. These materials look pretty crude, but they are chemically complex.

So what can Humic acid do for the greenkeeper and the turf they look after?

Humic acid as found in Basfioliar Black is a carbon-rich soil amendment that can positively affect the soil chemistry as well as the soil microbial activity.

In UK fields trials applying Kick Wetting Agent and Basfoliar Black together has shown to improved turf quality and reduced turf stress.

Fulvic acids are the smallest of the two molecules and are the most water soluble. Due to their small size, they can enter the roots and leaf tissue while transporting complex nutrients.

When used in conjunction with certain fertilisers like Compo Expert Fertilis Swing for greens, it can be even more effective. Both of these fertilisers contain hormones that stimulate plant growth, including cytokinins

and auxin. They assist with cell division and enlargement, helping increase the speed at which the grass plants grow. It’s important to note that humic acid can do this, too. So do you really need to use both types of acid?

Humic and fulvic acid benefits are greater when these minerals are used in tandem.

Together, humic and fulvic minerals can work in harmony to boost your plant growth.

While humic acid naturally improves soil health and growth, fulvic acid will help your plants take up nutrients more effectively.

This can help save you money and time because you can reduce the amount of nutrients that you supply to your turf, because they uptake more effectively.

They support healthy microbial activity and lower the uptake of toxins - crucial if you are using synthetic fertilisers. Humic and fulvic acid can also improve photosynthesis and plant metabolism for improved growth You’ll be able to grow healthy turf more efficiently.

Plus, humic and fulvic acid can improve the drainage and water retention of your rootzone. n www.compoexpert.com

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C-Complex range gets growth going The C-Complex range from Headland Amenity is helping the team at Gog Magog Golf Club ward off lush, leafy growth, in favour of firm and fast surfaces – in keeping with the course’s downland surroundings.

Estate Manager Andrew Howarth uses various analysis of C-Complex organic mineral fertiliser for feeding and recovery throughout the year, including C-Complex Sport which was trialled on some of the sites high traffic areas last year with great success.

Gog Magog is a 36-hole complex and, together with boasting one of the largest practice facilities in the UK, is listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its calcareous grassland. This means that for Andrew and his team of 14, there’s certain dos and don’ts when it comes to chemical usage and maintenance.

“While we’re not as restricted on the closer mown areas, we do manage the course in a sustainable way, with a focus on organics” explained Andrew.

“Because of the high usage, we found we were struggling with recovery on some of the high traffic areas, in particular, the greens surrounds. In the hunt for a product that would give use good recovery, without triggering excessive

growth, we spoke with our Regional Technical Manager at Headland, Peter Blackaby, who suggested we apply C-Complex Sport.” C-Complex® Sport 14-25+MgO is designed for use on all coarse turf areas and has delivered exceptional results on golf tees and surrounds where lasting strength is needed. The homogenous, regular granule features a high concentration of humic acids and other organic material and so breaks down easily on contact with moisture.

“The humic acid is excellent for root development and gives us the recovery and growth we want, where with other products you’d only get one or the other! We applied C-Complex Sport just once last year in late spring and had fantastic field longevity with it.”

Alongside C-Complex Sport, Andrew is also using C-Complex 5-2-10 on the greens, applied once a year as a ‘spring starter’.

“The combination of different nitrogen sources respond well at cooler temperatures – doing a good job of getting growth going.”

“After summer renovations we then change to the C-Complex 4-3-4 analysis which, thanks to the soft granular make-up, breaks down fast to encourage healthy root development and quick recovery to bring the surfaces back into play ASAP.” TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 27

FERTILISER AND CHEMICALS

It’s all about I

t’s a normal objective for every turf professionals to produce the best playing surface possible… all year-round. The problem is that there is no such thing as a normal year as the vagaries of our UK climate can play havoc with even the best plans and programmes.

As we enter the summer season, whether you’re maintaining a golf course, football or rugby pitch, bowling green, cricket square or outfield, the control of grass growth will be a major consideration.

Keeping a targeted and balanced nutritional/bio-stimulant programme is key to reducing these stresses and even though a granular programme will likely be the mainstay of the majority of turf surfaces, integrating liquid supplements between granular applications, will keep the available nutritional levels consistent and provide

28 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

improved growth control Liquid applications allow the turf managers to choose how much nutrient they would like to apply: it’s controllable and can be immediately available to the plant allowing more control on growth patterns, while maintaining plant health.

Deciding on an application rate that doesn’t produce excess top growth requires knowing what nutritional input is needed, and this is quite simple to determine. You will need to know the Specific Gravity (SG) and the analysis of the product(s) you want to apply.

For users of liquid fertilisers, the calculation of a product’s SG can sometimes seem daunting so using this formula may help: Application Rate x SG x Analysis ÷ 100 Example: Nutri-Link Base, which part of the Nutri-Link system, has an analysis of

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targeted solutions

Application of liquid fertilisers applies targeted nutrients to turf surface

12-0-0+8CaO+Fe; it also contains simple and complex biostimulants and oligosaccharides (carbohydrate chains). The Specific Gravity is 1.30, so an application rate of 30lt/ha, will give the following input: Nitrogen 30 x 1.3 x 12 ÷ 100 = 4.68kg/ha Calcium (Ca0)

30 x 1.3 x 8 ÷ 100 = 3.12kg/ha The combination of these nutrients will provide minimal growth but the benefit comes with the strengthening of the cells walls from the Iron and calcium content.

The iron activates enzymes that promote lignin synthesis within the secondary cell

wall and the calcium, in conjunction with pectin, helps form the middle lamella that cements adjoining cells together and provides strength and rigidity to the plant.

The calcium will also ensure that root development is improved and both the iron and calcium application will assist in improving the turf’s tolerance to diseases, which may help reduce the number of fungicide treatments.

Once the required nutrient input has been identified, the decision can be made as to which, if any bio-stimulants, micronutrients, PGR or herbicides can be added. This decision once again depends on what results the turf manager is looking to achieve.

During the summer months presentation is paramount in most sports, so adding a compatible products containing

1 Solution

iron will certainly provide a great colour. The Nutri-Link system contains a range of product formulations, which are all compatible with each other. As an example, the Nutri-Link Green, 5-0-0+5Fe+carbohydrates will give the colour boost required but will also provide an excellent source of carbon and sugars from the complex of carbohydrates for stimulating beneficial microorganisms; a healthy rootzone leads to a healthy plant, and when added to a product containing humic/fulvic acids improves the efficiency and uptake of nutrients. Molasses also work as a chelating agent, allowing those nutrients that are ‘locked up’ available to the plant. Applying molasses in early summer and autumn provides the plant with much needed carbohydrates for plant recovery and establishment. }

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3 modes of activity

Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs control

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Targeted solutions continued } Once again using the same

Nodosum Ascophyllum

formula as before, applying Nutri-Link Green containing 5% N applied at 20lt/ha with an SG of 1.18, the N input will be: 20 x 1.18 x 5 ÷ 100 = 1.18kg/ha of Nitrogen

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A good looking green surface however is not necessarily a good indicator as to the health of the turf as plant health is maintained by ensuring the focus is on the whole plant and not just the colour of the leaf. If a healthy root system exists, then invariably a healthy sward will be the result.

Increased root mass and length means more availability of nutrients and moisture, reducing the need for fertiliser and irrigation. The natural root development of cool season grasses is stronger from March to June/July and September to November, weather permitting.

Products containing Humates (Humic and Fulvic acids), such as Nutri-Link Root, are excellent for root development. Humic acids are attracted to the area round the root where it takes up (depletes) nutrients. This is known as the depletion zone, and

when the humic acids arrive in the zone they bring nutrients and moisture for the roots. Humic acids have the ability to attract positive ions, which include nitrogen and potassium, and these are then pulled towards the negatively charged plant root in the depletion zone. When Humic acids are applied in liquid form it has also been proved that nutrient absorption through the leaf is also greatly enhanced, so when it is tank mixed with a macro nutrient package you are optimising plant uptake and health. Humic and fulvic acids are also excellent for aiding seed establishment, but by adding an NPK fertiliser, such as Nutri-Link Leaf with them, there is a synergistic effect.

A further addition to the range, Nutri-Link Revive contains seaweed and amino acids, which are excellent bio-stimulants in their own rights and can be

tank mixed with other biostimulants as well as macro and micro nutrient sources.

Seaweed has been used for hundreds of years as a source of nutrients, albeit in small amounts but also provides many benefits as a root developer.

Seaweeds contains auxins, which help to promote the initiation of adventitious roots and cell division, as do cytokinins, also in seaweed, leading to root development.

Using the synergistic benefits of combining bio-stimulants with conventional nutritional programmes, as with the Nutri-Link system, will help produce the quality, stress free surfaces that are required at all times of the year. As these products are all compatible with each other, they can help reduce man-hours, fuel usage and overall nutrient input costs. n www.rigbytaylor.com

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FERTILISERS AND CHEMICALS

Phil Logan, of Advance Grass Solutions, looks into the intriguing world of nitrogen I recently asked someone what they would do if they wanted to feed their turf for a long period of time from one application of fertiliser? The answer given was that the higher the number of N on the analysis, the longer it will last…

So will the analysis, 21.0.0 last longer (longevity) than an 18.0.0? I’m afraid if you answered yes then, well… you aren’t right or wrong, you just don’t have enough information yet. Let’s explore the rationale behind that and why it is important.

I’m sure everyone reading this understands the cost of turf nutrition has significantly increased in the last 12 months! For that reason, I wanted to take this opportunity to bring us back to basics. I want to refresh everyone on the importance of correct selection when it comes to Nitrogen Sources (N), where we find this information and why it really is the most important thing to understand to get the maximum value and performance out of your fertiliser.

THE MAIN NITROGEN SOURCES FOR TURFGRASS Nitrogen is, by a long way, the most important and influential input we provide to our turf. It provides the building blocks of plant growth and development. Due to surface usage and necessary but stressful maintenance practices, we often must supplement our soils with Nitrogen based fertilisers to help our turf grow and perform. These fertilisers come in many shapes and sizes. I have set out below, the basics and what to expect if we apply them.

However, if you are interested in more detail, I encourage everyone to research it, in particular, the Nitrogen Cycle, and how each form of nitrogen behaves in respect to it.

Disclaimer: I have selected what I believe are the most common sources of Nitrogen used in turf. I fully accept

there are others but to keep it short and simple I have chosen the majority.

1. SOLUBLE PLANT AVAILABLE NITROGEN (SYNTHETIC/MINERAL) These are water soluble forms of nitrogen that, when applied to the turf, are immediately (or almost immediately) available to the plant. Typically, this source is most useful when soil temperatures are low as microbial activity is required for other N sources to be broken down to available forms for the plant. Nitrate, (and when conditions allow, Ammonium) are the forms of Nitrogen taken up by plants and can come in many substances such as Ammonium Sulphate or Calcium Nitrate.

Each have additional affects due to their components. i.e., ammonium sulphate also contains 24% sulphur and has an acidifying effect on the soil. Nitrate won’t last long though, due to its solubility and negative charge, it quickly leaches through the profile.

Expect these forms to last 2-4 weeks depending on conditions and soil type.

Urea in its pure form, is a water-soluble form of N that, in warmer conditions, is very quickly made plant available as it requires the activity of soil microbes to convert it to plant available ammonium N. For this reason, it can be unpredictable in spring, and it is commonly used in summer/autumn fertilisers. Therefore, although volatilisation (loss of nitrogen as ammonium gas to the atmosphere) is slower in cold temperatures, if urea cannot be quickly converted to ammonium carbonate a significant portion can be lost to the atmosphere, an expensive mistake in the current economic climate. Urea is also popular as it makes a fantastic tank mix partner due to its extensive hydrogen bonding (highly soluble).

Expect 4-6 weeks longevity from urea (depending on conditions) with it taking slightly longer to show a turf response than say, ammonium sulphate. It is rarely applied to turf in uncoated granular form due to its high salt index increasing the likelihood of scorch/salt stress.

The problem occurs on labels (if detailed),

where any urea, regardless of the form, is referred to as “UREIC”. As we will find out, this can mean many different things.

2. SYNTHETIC NITROGEN (SLOW RELEASE) Methylene Urea. A similar story to regular urea by which it requires the action of soil microorganisms. However, the production process creates a variety of longer chain molecules. This provides a predictable, slow, longer-term conversion to plant available N thus giving an even growth pattern. This makes them very popular in turfgrass environments where predictable growth patterns are important for performance, such as golf greens and sports pitches.

Depending on the formulation and amount of MU, expect anywhere between 4-12 weeks longevity from these fertilisers. It is a very safe, low salt N source, available in both liquid and granular forms.

Thanks to its advanced production process, AGS Growth Products Smart Nitrogen™ contains more longer carbon chain molecules than other methylene urea molecules meaning it provides superior growth predictability and longevity.

Growth Products also pride themselves on providing end users with every piece of information they need by producing some of the most detailed labels on the market.

This helps to ensure turf managers achieve the desired outcome with their fertiliser application. Labels are not always this clear, they can be very vague, only stating the analysis. If this is the case, speak to your supplier and find out exactly what is in your fertiliser, be it granular or liquid.

3. ORGANIC NITROGEN (SLOW RELEASE) In a fairway situation, where clippings are not removed, organic matter provides most of the nitrogen for turf growth.

Mineralisation takes care of excess organic matter, converting it to plant available N. However, in managed turf, particularly where clippings are removed, we may wish to provide supplemental organic nitrogen.

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Thanks to its advanced production process, AGS Growth Products Smart Nitrogen™ contains more longer carbon chain molecules than other methylene urea molecules meaning it provides superior growth predictability and longevity

Organic fertilisers should be from materials derived from a living (or previously living) source, such as plants and animals.

Be careful, this is a common place where cheaper mineral fertilisers can be passed on as more expensive organics by including small amounts of organic nutrients. The E.U. has some fairly lose rules when it comes to classification of organics. For example, to be classified as an Organic Solid, the product must contain a minimum of 15% Organic Carbon. To be classified as Organo-Mineral Fertilisers, Organic Carbon should be a minimum of 7.5% and Organic Nitrogen greater than 0.5%. Very easy to see how many so-called “organics” are not what they seem on the surface.

Granular organic nitrogen sources, such as Sustane, generally take between 4-8 weeks to breakdown leaving behind valuable soil building organic materials among other benefits that are extensively documented. They are also available in liquid forms. However, organic liquids are water soluble nutrients derived from organic sources (such as animal waste), therefore you extract the nutrients and leave the other valuable organic materials behind. They do not require the level of breakdown via microbial activity and have less beneficial effects on soil health.

When it comes to organic fertiliser, make sure you read your labels, with any luck they will clearly state the percentage of Water Insoluble Nitrogen (WIN: This is your true organic part) and provide the organic source. For example, Sustane, contains mainly anaerobically composted turkey litter to supply the organic nutrition to the turf. The percentage of these are always clearly stated on our labels.

Don’t be fooled here.

Read your label and make sure you are happy with the amount of actual organic you are applying. If it’s not on the label, ask your supplier.

4. CONTROLLED RELEASE NITROGEN There is then a whole host of controlled release Nitrogen sources. Only available in granular form, meaning they are usually not feasible for fine turf, they consist of materials such as resin or polymer coated urea prills which rely on moisture, temperature and/or microbial activity for release. The most useful characteristic of

these fertilisers is that release patterns can be long-term and predictable depending on the type and thickness of coating used. This is a popular choice for areas of turf that need regular nutrition without the ability/necessity to be applying regularly. Products range from 2-6 months in longevity and should come with a guide from your supplier on how long you can expect it last. Again, with urea-based products, the label is unlikely to help as it may all be stated as “UREIC”. This does not give us an accurate picture, there should be multiple grades of coated urea that help provide a smooth nitrogen release curve over the specified time. This is where supplier information is essential, make sure to ask them how the controlled release urea is formulated, as often a timescale in a catalogue can be misleading. This will ensure you meet your goals when it comes to long term, minimal application, turf nutrition.

SUMMARY I hope you can all see the importance of knowing your nitrogen source. Depending on your turf nutrition goals, we quickly start to see where proper selection fits in. Understanding how the source of nitrogen used will interact with the soil and therefore, the plant, is extremely important.

If you are looking for a fertiliser that will last 2-3 months, then understanding that a product containing mainly ammonium sulphate won’t do the job. Similarly, if you are looking to give your turf a kick in spring then it would be a good idea to avoid anything containing too much urea or organic nitrogen. Whilst we can normally rely on suppliers to guide us, it is an essential piece of information that all turf managers should be aware of and regularly reviewing. Keep in mind that most fertilisers contain a blend, or formulation, of multiple N sources depending on the desired outcome.

A little on the underlying agronomics I could go on about the intricacies of turf nutrition all day! I won’t. However, I would like to leave you with a parting piece of advice when it comes to your soils and nutrition. Get your pH tested! pH, or the acidity or alkalinity of your soil, plays a huge part the efficacy/availability of your nutrition and in turn the grass species

that will grow favourably. Because of the way we maintain turf (particularly the use of fertilisers containing ammonium salts), we slowly (sometimes quickly) lower our pH. If acidity increases too much, availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium decreases. This also increases availability of toxic elements such as aluminium and manganese. Below pH 5-5.5, our desired grass species may start to show increased levels of stress. pH monitoring is important to all turf surfaces but is particularly important in sandy rootzones where pH changes quickly due to low CEC. Low pH also has a negative effect on our soil microbial activity thus further decreasing the efficacy of our nutrients that rely on them to breakdown nitrogen sources not immediately available to the plant.

So, absolutely, study your fertiliser labels/information and make sure that what you are buying matches your required outcome. But ultimately, if pH is not in the correct range, you could be missing a big piece of the puzzle. AGS believe in providing the very best customer service. We are happy to provide soil samples, including pH, free of charge.

Contact us today if you would like a visit from our in-field technical team.

In conclusion, to go back to the question I asked at the start, we still don’t know if a 21-0-0 will last longer than a 18-00. The analysis (N-P-K) is a necessary piece of information when it comes to calculating the number of units applied, still an important exercise, but not the full picture. What we should be doing is reading our labels and asking our suppliers for more information. Then we can sit down and work out exactly what we want, and expect, from our Nitrogen inputs. This will help us make informed, agronomic, and economical decisions about the nutrition we apply to our turf, and hopefully squeezing every penny (Unit of N) as far as it will go. n Phil Logan BSc (Hons is UK Technical Manager for AGS

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Home sweet home 34 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

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I

Scott MacCallum visits St Andrews, venue for the 150th Open Championship, and talks with unflappable Course Manager Gordon McKie about “the biggest golf tournament on the planet…”

was brought up just nine miles from St Andrews, so the town was, and is, very much a part of my life.

We enjoyed the glorious West Sands beach when I was a young boy, while I very much enjoyed the hostelries when I became a little bit older.

Oh, and I also enjoyed the odd round or two on one of the four St Andrews courses. Yes, I know there are more nowadays, but they have since added to the Old, the New, the Eden and the Jubilee, as well as adding some fabulous facilities – preventing the necessity for golfers about to experience the round of their lives, having to change shoes in the car park.

I’ve also been to many St Andrews Open Championships. More recently, I’ve attended dinners in the R&A Clubhouse, an iconic place where I also had the privilege of interviewing Sir Michael Bonallack, the then R&A Secretary.

I’ve got particularly fond memories of those Opens though. My first was in 1978 when Jack Nicklaus overcame a valiant challenge from little known New Zealander, Simon Owen, to claim his second St Andrews Open.

Six years later, I was there again when Seve Ballesteros joyfully fist pumped on the final green, as a birdie sealed his win. As Seve celebrated, I was 500 yards away, watching Tom Watson try, unsuccessfully, to get up and down from beside the wall on the Road Hole 17th. Want proof? See Page 36...

My wife and I watched Greg Norman and Nick Faldo set out on rounds of differing fortunes – 76 to 67 – from the stand at the back of the 18th on the Saturday of the 1990 Open; while I was feet away from Costantino Rocca when he first duffed his chip and then, remarkably, holed his huge putt to force a play-off with John Daly in 1995.

I was also there when Tiger Woods completed the full set of Major titles in 2000, and watched Jack Nicklaus being photographed on the Swilken Bridge, like every golfing tourist before or since, on his final appearance in The Open in 2005.

Memories are made and cherished at St Andrews.

But, if I think I’ve got some good memories, I am distinctly second best to Gordon McKie, who has been Course Manager of The Old Course for the past two St Andrews Opens and who has been on the Links team for another two before that. Gordon’s Open memories } TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 35

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

“IN TRUTH THE OLD COURSE HASN’T CHANGED MUCH SINCE IT WAS FIRST LAID OUT BY MOTHER NATURE… WE WANT TO KEEP IT LIKE IT WAS WHEN OLD TOM MORRIS WAS THE VERY FIRST HEAD GREENKEEPER.” } around many to remain closely guarded secrets extend beyond St Andrews and cover a ringside seat at one of the most memorable Open conclusions in history.

We caught up with Gordon a couple of months out from what will be the 150th Open Golf Championship.

Gordon is a man who might just be the most laid back person in the game – or, at the very least, extremely good at disguising any stress he might be carrying.

Either way there is very little that seems to faze him.

“We’re just looking for a little bit of heat to get some growth to provide the definition we are looking for, as it’s been a cold, dry spring,” he explained, in answer to the opening question as to how things were shaping up.

In previous Opens the issue of the length of the Old Course, which was more than decent for the world’s top pros in decades past, but which leaves the course a little vulnerable in the modern game where 350+ yard drives are commonplace, was dealt with by using every spare inch (and more) that could be found to extend the course.

This saw a new tee being located in the field at the back of the aforementioned Road Hole – in a bid to maintain its reputation as the toughest hole in the world.

“In truth the Old Course hasn’t changed much since it was first laid out by Mother Nature. We don’t want to mess with history, and we want to keep it like it was when Old Tom Morris was the very first Head Greenkeeper.

The other main man-made defence of the Old Course is the ability to stick the pins behind bunkers, which ensures even the most gifted wedge player struggles to get the ball within 20 feet of the hole.

But it is something even Gordon himself can’t control, that offers the real protection to the course.

“We do rely on the weather and we need the wind to blow to help defend the golf course.”

But that’s not say that there are not other things that can be done to ensure that it is the very best player of the week who is presented 36 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

A youthful Scott MacCallum (top, circled) sees Tom Watson in action in 1984.

Maintaining his penchant for sunhats, Scott is pictured above at the same spot, on the 17th, this summer

with the Claret Jug, in front of the most famous building in the game.

“We are looking more at strategy this year and we’ve done a bit of work to toughen up the rough so it impacts upon the strategy that players use. To achieve this we’ve roped off areas of rough for the last three years to protect it from traffic, trolleys etc.”

In previous years, an avoidance of bunkers was a sure-fire way to climb the leaderboard, a point proven by Tiger Woods who won the 2000 Open by not going into any bunkers during any of his four

rounds. The other approved method of playing the Old Course is to keep left for safety, and aim right from the tee if you want to create birdie opportunities but risk more trouble.

If it were that simple we’d all have a St Andrews Open on our CV, but it is regarded as the notso-secret secret of how to play this most unique of golf courses.

Gordon is a local man and incredibly proud of being tasked with maintaining the Old Course.

Remarkably, since Old Tom was Head Greenkeeper in the mid to late 1800s, only nine people have

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held the position Gordon has now.

Other legendary St Andrews greenkeeping figures, including Walter Woods BEM, were Links Superintendents and had a wider brief than just the Old Course, so are not included among the nine.

“It’s a huge honour and was something I’d not realised until I took on the position. I’m only the ninth since Old Tom,” said the man who could be described as Middle-Aged Gordon.

“I’ve been doing it for a few years now and it is still one of the best jobs in the world. There is nothing else I’d want to do, and nowhere else I’d want to be,” he added, while also paying tribute to the current Links Superintendent Sandy Reid, who crossed the Firth of Tay a couple of years ago from his previous role as }

TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 37

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

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“IT’S A HUGE HONOUR TO BE COURSE MANAGER AT THE MOMENT AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT… AND ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN IT’S ALL OVER.” } Carnoustie Links Superintendent..

Toro electric triple at St Andrews

“Sandy has been a brief of fresh air. I worked with Gordon Moir for many years and that was good, but Sandy has come in and been very supportive of what we do and has brought a lot to the table.

“Even today he’s out doing a bit of work for us on the course.

He lets us get on with the job.”

But getting back to the man who was first to be Old Course custodian. What does the current holder of the post think is the piece of equipment he currently uses that would blow Old Tom’s mind?

“Electric mowers are something which would probably have blown his mind… and rollers, although they are something that we are backing away from now as, according to the data we collect, they give inconsistent green speed.

Oh, and the GPS technology which is around now. We have sprayers which are applying product through GPA technology. And then there are the moisture meter readings, which have been brought in to assist the decision making process.

“So a lot of that technology side of things would probably blow his mind, but I don’t think he would agree with much of it!”

But there is one aspect to the 150th Open that will see a return to a previous practice that is now not see at many regular members clubs on big competition days.

They will be using electric Toro triple mowers to cut the greens, taking over from the traditonal hand mowing which had previously been seen as the benchmark for

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the highest possible standard.

“We are going to be a little different this year in that we are looking to be a lot more sustainable in the manner in which we set up the golf course.

“In 2015 we had around 65 to 70 staff working on the course.

This year we will have a maximum of 55 and we will be using triple mowers on the greens.

“Our greens are huge, particularly the double greens, and total two and a half hectares. It takes 12 members of staff to hand cut them once and we will be double cutting them for The Open. To get that done in the time available each day would have meant going to silly numbers in terms of manpower and machinery.

“We at St Andrews have always been conscious of sustainability and the environment and working with our machinery partners in Toro and the R&A this approach is a message we are trying to get out. There are sustainable ways in which you can maintain your golf course, not just for Major tournaments, but for any Club Championship or Captain’s Day at clubs around the world.”

All the cutting units on the St Andrews Links are kept sharp by three Foley grinders. The first two are the 653 Accu-Master cylinder spin and relief grinder, the 673 Accu-Pro bedknife grinder, and were installed around three years ago. The latest addition was installed by Ian Robson, UK and Ireland Distributor for Foley, in May, and is a 622 AccuPro spin only cylinder grinder.

Gordon is very much a lover of The Open full stop, and was a long time regular member of the BIGGA Open Support team, which provides support to the home greenkeeping team at every course on the Open rota. In fact, until he ended his time on the team he had worked at every venue apart from Royal St George’s.

His last Support Team Open was 1999 at Carnoustie, after which he felt it was the perfect time to hang up his bunker rake.

“I was privileged to be the man assigned to the final match on the final day – Jean Van De Velde and Craig Parry, while I also did the four hole play-off, and

was able to see first hand Paul Lawrie become the last Scot to win an Open on Scottish soil.”

For those without long golfing memories, that was The Open in which Frenchman Van de Velde carried a three shot lead into the final hole but, through a combination of poor judgment and bad luck, found himself standing in the Barry Burn minus shoes and socks contemplating attempting a miracle shot. Common sense prevailed and he eventually took a penalty drop, while he finally made a six footer to limp his way into the play-off.

It’s widely regarded as one of the biggest meltdowns in sport.

“Jean was here doing a documentary for French television a couple of years ago and asked to play a couple of holes with me. At the time he didn’t know who I was, but I told him off camera that we’d met before and told him. We had a chat and a chuckle about what happened on that afternoon. He’s put it in the past, and now has the ability to laugh about it himself.”

It’s unlikely the 72nd hole will produce such dramatics at St Andrews this year, although the Valley of Sin, and a tricky to read green can cause heartache. Whatever happens, Gordon and Sandy will be a part of the presentation party on that 18th green to present the winner with the Jug. “At that moment there is pride and there is also relief. Pride, as you look down the 1st and 18th fairway at your golf course, and relief that we have got to the end without a major problem. It will be doubly so this time because it is the 150th Open and it means so much to so many people.

“According to those who know these things, this is going to be the biggest golf tournament on the planet, surpassing Ryder Cups, particularly with the news that Tiger Woods intends to play.

“It’s a huge honour to be Course Manager at the moment and I’m looking forward to it… and also looking forward to when it’s all over.”

For me, I’m not sure whether I will find my old spot beside the wall at the 17th, but if I do I’ll no doubt be wearing a silly hat!

GRASS SEEDS

Time to recognise importance Pressure on golf clubs to deliver courses which can meet the often-conflicting demands placed on them is leading some Course Managers to use ultrafine-leaf ryegrasses.

Luke Hunt, Product Manager for Barenbrug, explains why.

Golfers want to spend more time on course and continue playing throughout the year, footfall is increasing, and expectations in terms of turf quality are rising.

At the same time, our changing climate is bringing more extremes of weather, leading to different practical and disease challenges. The combination of generally cooler springs followed by heatwaves and drought is leading to changes in the type of grass species being selected.

To deal with these challenges, Barenbrug have been breeding, researching and trailing, fine-leaf ryegrass varieties for golf courses for many years, the latest of which form the core of the new Barenbrug Ultrafine range.

The latest Ultrafine products represent a milestone for the golf industry. Due to the popularity of the original Ultrafine 100% ryegrass offering, 2022 sees the range extended from a single product to three, the new additions adding carefully matched fescues that leverage

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the performance advantages of the very latest fine-leaf ryegrasses.

This is a significant development, not least because ryegrass was once a shunned species.

In his book Practical Greenkeeping, Jim Arthur said; “it has no place on any golf course”.

But times change and with developments in breeding ryegrass has gone on to fulfil almost every golf course application, even in certain extreme circumstances on greens which would once have been unthinkable.

Since 2015, the amount of Barenbrug golf mixtures containing perennial ryegrass has steadily increased.

Firstly, Barenbrug is seeing a demand increase for products which build on the inherent strengths of perennial ryegrass. This is because turf managers have seen the benefits the species can bring to tees, fairways, and high traffic areas, as well as the advantages of rapid germination at low soil temperatures.

The cold springs, which we now appear to experience year on year, present significant challenges when it comes to repairing the inevitable damage left behind after the winter. With fescue requiring 11°C and

browntop bent needing 15°C for decent germination, achieving strong establishment may not be possible in March or even April.

However, because ryegrass germinates readily at 7°C it gives the opportunity to restore grass cover in the spring.

Secondly, the latest ryegrass bred varieties offer previously unseen levels of fineness, shoot density and aesthetics, even when close-mown. While a perennial ryegrass dominant sward will not produce a surface that meets the expectations of golfers in terms of putting quality, there are scenarios where using ryegrass on a green is a viable option and can provide a solution.

For greens that may struggle with shade or higher moisture levels, some thinning of the sward is not uncommon, particularly on the clean-up lap or walk on/ off areas. Overseeding such areas with ryegrass will increase the overall wear tolerance, protect the existing grasses, and help to reduce thinning of the sward.

All products in Barenbrug’s Ultrafine range include ultrafine-leaf ryegrass, so the decision on which one to choose is primarily a preference as to how much high-performance ryegrass the customer perceives to be best matched

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of ryegrass? to their individual situation.

The backbone of the Ultrafine range, Barolympic, scores 8.6 in the 2022 BSPB G4 table.

Top for colour and second for fineness of leaf, it blends easily with other grass species.

Ultrafine 100, a 100% blend of fine turf perennial ryegrasses, offers the best fine ryegrasses on the market.

It is designed for overseeding and construction of fine turf with intense wear that demands tolerance to close-mowing, golf green surrounds, pinch-points and walk-off areas.

This blend comprises 50% Barolympic; Barprium, an exciting new cultivar from Barenbrug’s breeding station in France, bringing independently proven drought tolerance, efficient nitrogen use,

and disease resistance. Ultrafine 100 also includes Barsignum.

Designed for constructing or overseeding medium-fine and fine turf subjected to high wear pressure, Ultrafine 60 contains 60% ultrafine perennial ryegrass – the Barenbrug varieties Barolympic and Barprium.

These are blended with 40% fine, highly ranked varieties of red fescue in the form of Barrisse, the strong creeping red, Viktorka, a slender creeping red, and chewings Bodega.

Ultrafine 30 is for overseeding and construction of fine turf with moderate wear. It too uses these three fescues, each featuring in the top 10 of their own specific tables, which are blended with 30% Barolympic. n www.barenbrug.co.uk/ultrafine

MM Seed: Fit for a King MM grass seed is working wonders for the King’s Bruton Foundation according to Director of Grounds, Graham Kitley.

The King’s Bruton Foundation, in Somerset, comprises three schools – King’s Bruton, Hazlegrove Preparatory and Bruton School for Girls.

Before being promoted to the position of Director of Grounds in July 2021, Graham spent just over four years working solely on the Hazlegrove site. He now oversees the King’s Bruton and Hazlegrove sites the two separate grounds teams.

“How the schools are presented is incredibly important. We take pride in the grounds because it is the first thing you see when you arrive, and first impressions are everything,” said Graham.

“Furthermore, both of the Headmasters are very sport minded people, and it is important that the pupils are out playing as much sport as they can on the very best facilities.

“As a grounds team we are backed by the School and the Bursar in terms of budget for products and machinery.”

Graham admits to being in a fortunate position and insists on using only the finest products. This was certainly the case when it came to choosing a grass seed.

“I speak to many people in the industry about products and it

became apparent that a lot were using MM seed. Because everyone was raving about the benefits of MM, I thought I’d try it. It did exactly what everybody said it would do and it has been phenomenal ever since.”

Graham uses MM50 - a hardwearing ryegrass mix and MM7 – a mix of fine leaved ryegrass, fescue and bent which is suitable for fine turf.

“Across both schools, we use MM50 on all our cricket pitches and all our formal lawns, and then we use MM7 on our golf greens.

“We have such a short turnaround period between terms, and I need to have faith in the products,” he continued. “MM seed has excellent germination and is up and growing strong within days. This is particularly beneficial because it allows us to get on with other jobs while having confidence in the seed to be working away.

“It also responds well over the winter, and we have very little disease. The recovery is good, the colour is good, and it has never let me down. n www.mm-seeds.co.uk TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 41

GRASS SEEDS

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Seed for perfect surfaces for both winter sports and cricket Matt Parry, Head Groundsman at Kingston Grammar School, has praised mixtures from DLF for delivering great results at a great price, all backed up with great support from his local Technical Manager, Craig Spooner.

With the whole 22-acre site sown with seed from across the DLF portfolio, this season the focus has been on the outfields and four cricket squares, where a combination of ProMaster 79, ProMaster 80 and ProMaster 36 from the Masterline range has delivered a first-class finish.

DLF seed has been Matt’s choice for the last five years, creating the perfect playing surfaces for winter sports, tennis and cricket – used by pupils alongside teams from the local community. “Over time, we’ve sown mixtures from both the Johnsons Sports Seed and Masterline ranges, with an unwavering confidence that whatever we use is going to perform” explains Matt, who heads up a team of three.

“We conduct a full renovation on the football surfaces in spring to prepare for the cricket season, with overseeding roughly

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every six weeks throughout the season where it’s needed. For this we selected ProMaster 80 Renovator, purchased from Core Amenity, which gives us strong, equal establishment and a resistant and hard-wearing sward to cope with the pressures of a high wear season.”

As the name suggests, PM80 Renovator is ideal for the renovation of worn playing surfaces – featuring 25% Tetragame 4turf tetraploid and 75% diploid perennial ryegrass for a disease resistant, drought tolerant and nitrogen efficient mix.

As the temperatures cool, Matt then switches to ProMaster 79 as a 50% tetraploid mixture for more effective autumn/winter overseeding.

“PM79 has proven to deliver great colour and great recovery on our outfields through the colder months.

Completing the programme is one which establishes quickly and gives us a dense, resistant sward on our squares.

“The service we get is as equally important as the quality of the

product for me,” added Matt “I speak regularly to Craig, who will update me on what research is taking place and what’s new and upcoming in regard to mixtures. This means I am always able to make an informed choice and gives us the confidence and trust to trial new formulations.”

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RUGBY SCHOOL PITCH

New era begins A

fter almost 200 years of sporting legacy, Rugby School in Warwickshire has come to the decision that now is the right time to re-lay the hallowed turf of The Close – the school’s main pitch.

The emphasis of the project is to lift the original soil-based turf, to make way for a sand-based, modern weather-resistant alternative that will deliver the very highest levels of performance in the years to come.

The Close at Rugby School is perhaps one of the most iconic sporting sites in the world. When William Webb Ellis decided to pick up the ball during a game of football at the school back in 1823, the distinct handling game of rugby

Two centuries after William Webb Ellis picked up the ball at Rugby School and invented a new game, the pitch is being upgraded. The Close had remained soil-based for 200 years but now makes way for sand-based because of changes in extremes of weather and increased usage football was invented. The field on which this historic moment occurred stood strong until this year, when the school made the decision to re-turf the pitch.

James Mead, Head Groundsman, has been leading the project and cited increased pressure on the pitches and changes in extremes of weather as the

foremost causes of the need for change.

“Mr Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it in 1823, and from there on every pupil and teacher that has been to, and left the school, has carried the game around the world with them. We are proud to say that the incredible world rugby family that exists today all started } TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 43

RUGBY SCHOOL PITCH

} from this very ground,” said James “From that day 200 years ago until 2022, The Close remained a soil-based pitch.

Over those years we have maintained the fields to the highest possible level with the equipment we have at our disposal.

However, we are now at a point with the extremes of weather and changes to nature we are experiencing, that we have to look at the performance of the pitch for the next 200 years. So, we will be installing an entirely sand-based pitch with a brand-new drainage and irrigation system

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that will deliver the very highest levels of performance all 12 months of the year.

“This is a huge project for us. It’s been in the offing for about five years now, since we really started to notice a couple of changes in the way the weather was affecting the pitch. Through no fault of our own, the performance of The Close wasn’t quite at the level we wanted or needed it to be. So, we started to think about how we could combat the changes in precipitation and temperature to take things forward, and what the best methods to accomplish that might be,” he revealed “We were always very conscious that we wanted to keep the look of the pitch natural, so the overall look of The Close won’t change much but will be far more refined with the sand base to deliver all-weather performance. Most importantly, with a sand base, the new pitch will be much more efficient from a management perspective and the new drainage system will have a huge impact in the wetter months.

“Through the school’s enterprise department, we are always looking to host more and more sporting events, so the ground has to undergo a lot of stress throughout a year. The level of those tournaments and the expression that we must portray of the school and its facilities is extremely high, so the pitch

must resemble that on any given day.”

The team at Rugby School did not simply remove and discard the turf, however. With such decorated history, it seemed only appropriate that rugby fans around the country were offered the chance to purchase their very own piece of sporting legacy.

“The home of any sport is very important, and to have it in its virtual natural state for almost 200 years is an incredible thing. This is a truly one-off project; there will never again be an opportunity to preserve a piece of the original rugby turf.

We decided that to not give rugby fans the opportunity to purchase an original piece of The Close to plant at their home would almost be criminal! And it turns out we were right, as every strip sold out in a matter of days – it’s a nice feeling knowing that this historical turf will live on in various forms around the country with people who possess a genuine passion for the game that was created here.”

Bernhard and Company has a 20+ year business relationship with Rugby School, but the link between the two organisations dates back further still, with the industry-leader in blade sharpening equipment based just a stone’s throw from the school. Since the introduction of Bernhard grinding machinery, the

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school has made great strides in the quality of cut and presentation of its turf.

However, the time has come for change.

With a brand-new sand-based pitch being laid, blade sharpening will be more important than ever. Mowers will be consistently subjected to sand damage, so the blades will need to be ground on a regular basis in order to ensure the new grass plant is not ripped or damaged when cut.

“Anybody who’s involved in sports turf at any level wants the best possible surfaces, for many reasons. We want the pitch to look good, it has to play well, and it also has to be safe for the athletes and players that are going to be performing on it. So, having a pitch that is maintained to the highest possible standard, with a healthy grass plant and root zone, is absolutely crucial,” said Steven Nixon, Managing Director of Bernhard and Co. “For Rugby School, having worldclass sports fields is a huge part of their programme. When people are looking at the school as an option, they want to look at the facilities and understand what kind of surfaces they’re going to be playing sport on and how good they are. The surfaces here should be as good as any in the country.

“When we first started working with Rugby School, we actually lent them a set of grinding machines for a period of time,

firstly to prove how easy they were to

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into the workshop to get them perfectly

THE HOME OF ANY SPORT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND TO HAVE IT IN ITS VIRTUAL NATURAL STATE FOR ALMOST 200 YEARS IS AN INCREDIBLE THING. use, and secondly to show them what a difference they could make to the overall look of their turf. At the end of the day, people buy grinding machines from us for the difference they are going to make to the presentation and health of their turf.

“Obviously, with the amount of top-class sport that takes place somewhere like Rugby School, there is even more focus on presentation and plant health. After using our machines for a short while it was easy for them to see that being able to sharpen that bit more often, and when they felt they needed to, created a big difference in the quality of their turf cutting.

“We’re excited to continue working with Rugby School as they take on this massive project to completely overhaul the base of the pitch at The Close. Having the grinding machines on-site will be hugely beneficial when the time comes to start cutting their grass again. With a sandy base, mower blades constantly get chipped and damaged, so being able to quickly take them

sharp again is completely invaluable.

Without that option, the school would have to send their cutting units off for weeks to get them sharpened by contractors.

At a place like Rugby School, machine downtime would cause real issues.”

James added that they had never looked back since taking on Bernhard grinding machines.

“In fact, we’ve actually added further machinery to our fleet, which has given us all the confidence that we need to make sure that any time we feel something needs to be sharpened, it can be done to the very highest level. One of the most useful things for us with the grinders is that we now never have any downtime with our mowing equipment, and every single day that we need them, they are sharp and ready to go. The confidence that gives us in our operation on a day-to-day basis allows us to focus on the job at hand, and the quality of finish that we can deliver is spot on.” n www.bernhard.co.uk TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 45

COMPACT TRACTORS

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Colin aims to beat the world record for a ride-on mower Working on ride-on mowers is part of the job for Colin North, owner of Bourne to Garden, a grounds maintenance business based in Kent, UK. However, it wasn’t until a friend mentioned the current world record attempt for the fastest journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats on a ride-on mower that he suddenly thought what a great challenge it would be to try and beat it, while raising money for charity – after all he has plenty

of experience driving them all day!

“We are aiming to beat the current world record of five days, eight hours and 36 minutes, completed by Andy Maxfield on the 30 July 2017,” said Colin.

“We will be driving an ISEKI SF5 ride-on mower that has been kindly donated and supported by ISEKI UK, aiming for up to 20 hours driving each day. All this, while most importantly for us, raising money for three charities that are close to our hearts; Motor Neurone Disease Association; Kenward Trust who help those struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, and The Masonic Charitable Foundation, with the target to raise £30,000 to be split equally between each of the charities.”

Starting off at Land’s End on Monday 27 June (as Turf Matters goes to print) they will be avoiding the motorways and travelling through 19 counties to reach their final destination of John O’Groats, while hopefully beating the current World Record.

“We can’t wait to get started, there is a lot of preparation involved and we could not have done this without the support of

ISEKI UK who will be travelling with us all the way too. We look forward to seeing people out en route, don’t forget to give us a beep and a wave! Between ourselves and ISEKI UK we will be doing regular updates on social media, interviews on TV and local radio coverage throughout the journey, so please keep a listen out for us.”

David Withers from ISEKI UK added that it was great that a customer had chosen one of their mowers to attempt this world record!

“We are so excited to support them on this challenge and look forward to supporting them throughout the journey then being with them at John O’Groats at the end of the race to celebrate their achievement!”

As part of the world record attempt stipulations, independent witness signatures and photos are required along the way, so keep a look out on ISEKI’s social media for details of where they will be and follow the tracker. n Details of how to donate can be found at www.bournetogarden.com

When 3 cylinders are better than 4 Specialist turf growers, County Turf, farm in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire with a fleet of 24 tractors. A strong relationship with local dealer Peacock & Binnington saw the company introduce a Fendt 211 to the fleet in 2020.

The Fendt has since done over 3000 hours and has helped Director Chris Medley reduce fuel costs and improve the efficiency of loading work.

“We run four-cylinder tractors for most of our general production work.

I was advised that the three-cylinder Fendt would manage the work well while offering a significant fuel saving.

It has been an eye-opener because we

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have reduced our fuel consumption by at least 25% and yet the tractor has performed admirably,” he explained.

There are five models in the 200 range: the 207, 208, 209, 210 and top of the range 211. The latest model 211 benefits from a power boost called ‘Dynamic Performance’ which releases an additional ten horsepower on demand. The system detects when components such as the PTO, hydraulics, engine fan and air-con need more power, and then provides that added power through smart control.

“If I had one criticism of our 211 it is that it is a little short of power for some applications. The new model may be an option for us in the future if the boost function provides the extra power that we need,” said Chris.

The 69 plate 211 at County Turf has been used mostly for loading. With a Fendt loader on the front and pallet tines on the three-point linkage it has become a popular choice for loading work and Chris suggests it is more useful than a telehandler.

Being a light tractor, it is also easier to transport. The Fendt is regularly deployed to sports grounds where it loads fresh turf and moves sand.

“When we install pitches, we need

lighter machines to reduce any potential damage to the turf. The Fendt is perfect for this because it has sufficient power without the greater weight that fourcylinder tractors carry,” Chris said.

The cab is typically Fendt. Quiet, comfortable, and ergonomic. It is spacious and more akin to the larger models in the range. The high seating position offers the operator better vision over the loader and gives an overall feeling of space.

The land used to grow turf is dry and coarse which makes establishment tricky at times, especially with the high winds experienced in the area. The 211 is regularly used for mowing and irrigation work but is also versatile enough to work with a harvester, loading lorries.

County Turf has a constant churn of tractors, choosing to replace each tractor in the fleet within three years to keep within the warranty period. With excellent support from Peacock & Binnington, Mr Medley is never left without a machine and servicing has been completed quickly and efficiently. “It is vital that we avoid downtime. The Fendt has not let us down in over 3000 hours, so we are really pleased with the reliability and the service we have had from P&B.”

COMPACT TRACTORS

This Kioti is the ‘perfect trailed mower companion’ The CK30 series models of Kioti Tractors have now been on the market for 12 months.

This season is their first full summer.

Based on the previous CK 10 series they have the same prin-ciples as the old model but have as standard various features and standard specifications that ad-vance the product to make a perfect tool for Landscapers, golf course green keepers and other pro-fessional users.

The models of the CK30 series range from 25 to 50HP. All models from 35HP to 50 HP have the latest Kioti 3 cylinder Stage V engines Common rail engines with DPF. Economical, quiet and with minimal vibration the Kioti Engine proves why the Kioti Engines have such a fine reputation.

The whole design and build is focused on the driver having a good, easy to use and low fatigue working experience.

The spacious air conditioned cabin comes with great all round visibility. The Grammar suspension seat with armrest that comes standard is perfectly comfortable.

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An adjustable steering wheel allows the operator to not just set the steering wheel to a comforta-ble height but also so that they have an uninterrupted view of the bright and clearly laid out Dash control panel.

For use with a mower the tractor could not be easier to set up. The tractor has 540 / 540E PTO, 2 x double acting spools, one with float makes the hydraulic connection easy. The fact that an inte-grated front loader joystick is also standard on these tractors gives a pair of fdouble acting

spools available to the front of the tractor if not utilised by a front end loader.

Forward speeds are easily controlled with the 3 range twin Pedal HST. For long runs the HST cruise control and be easily engaged.

To maintain a consistent PTO speed in varying grass growth areas or undulating and sloping ground the Cruise PTO feature will ensure that the engine revs will change as required to maintain the preset PTO speed.

For 3 point linkage implements the Automatic PTO feature will engage and disengage the PTO ac-cording to the lifting and lowering of the 3 point linkage. This protects the drive line and assists the safety of people in the vicinity of the unit.

Combined with the wide choice of tyres that is available to ensure you have the right wheel equipment and the five year, 3000 hour, warranty the Kioti CK30 series as a range that needs to be considered a real choice to make work easier.

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New pro models added to Major range Major Equipment has expanded its CS Pro mower class with the 3.0m model (MJ65300).

The CS Pro is a multi-purpose mower for compact tractors. The mulching blade system delivers an exceptional finish in everyday mowing. Heavy duty gearboxes power multiple rotors achieving consistent results in dense vegetation and hedgerow undergrowth as well as estate lawns and sports turf. Made of high performance Strenx 700 MC steel and galvanised, the CS Pro is a premium mower

delivering a high return on investment.

The MJ65-300 is a 3.0m wide machine with two wings folding up to 2.0m in transport mode. The four rotors feature four 7mm blades per rotor and delivers intense shredding in light and heavy material. Combined with high blade-tip speeds, all vegetation is finely cut and evenly dispersed leaving no windrows. Full length rollers follow ground contours while producing a striped effect. The cutting height is easily set between 15 and 100mm.

As little as 30hp is required to power

the 3.0m CS Pro, giving the subcompact or low-end utility tractor more capability than before. The CS Pro is available in 1.50m, 2.10m and 3.0m widths. n ukinfo@major-equipment.com

Siromer’s and Strictly winner’s big adventure Siromer Tractors has supplied former Strictly Come Dancing winner Kelvin Fletcher with a Lightning Tractor and a five foot Topper which he has been using for a variety of different tasks around his farm.

Kelvin is probably best known for his role in Emmerdale as Andy Sugden. He is also a model, TV presenter and successful racing car driver. After purchasing a 120-acre farm in the Peak District, Kelvin is now taking on his most challenging role to date, as a celebrity farmer.

If you have been following Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure on BBC One, then you will have seen his baptism by fire

into the world of farming and agriculture.

But also starring alongside Kelvin is his trusty Siromer Lightning Tractor.

“We first met Kelvin at the Great Yorkshire Show when he visited us on the Siromer stand to share his plans for the new TV series. Obviously, we jumped at the chance of supporting him with his machinery needs. It was great fun to be on set to offer technical guidance on our products,” said Louise Howard, MD of Siromer Tractors.

“We also welcomed him to Siromer HQ in April, when, as well as being involved in a Q&A, he took part in a Siromer tractor

football challenge. He really enjoyed building his new Siromer tractor up from a flatpack and he did a fantastic job.”

The new 35hp, 4-cylinder Siromer Lightning is available flatpacked or preassembled. This tractor has a dual clutch, shuttle gearbox, dual double acting spool valves, power steering and four-wheel drive. It is 1m wide and weighs 1,150kg. n www.siromer.online

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COMPACT TRACTORS

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New Ventrac 4520 compact

BTME 2022 provided the first opportunity for the UK golf sector to see the NEW Ventrac 4520 all-terrain compact tractor. Through Ventrac’s advanced engineering and design efforts there’s 30% more available power, the best mix of machine performance, operator experience, and durability; all combined in this new 4520 tractor unit.

At its core, the 4520 is a compact tractor,

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but it is very different to what most turf managers are used to seeing. The purpose of a tractor is to perform tasks more efficiently than manual tasks. The Ventrac 4520 plays on these advantages, then takes it to the next level. When coupled with the extensive range of Ventrac attachments, this tractor is a versatile machine for a variety of professional users.

The 4520 retains all the features of its predecessor, including its 30-degree slope climbing ability, but has been enhanced with an all-new hydraulic system featuring larger bore piping, more powerful auxiliary hydraulics and more resilient hoses and fittings resulting in faster and stronger operation.

This means 30% more available power, improving performance and productivity while providing the operator with a quieter working platform.

A new, robust centre pivot on the Flexframe provides greater durability and reliability and new LED lights provide enhanced vision in poor light conditions. A redesigned dashboard with a new gauge layout is more visible and easy-to-read. Most importantly,

all of the existing attachments fit seamlessly to the new 4520.

Ventrac has become the number one choice for versatility for ground’s care professionals. Combining a blend of peak power and agility with front-mounted attachments for superior visibility, a pivoting frame for manoeuvrability, and excellent weight distribution for balance and stability, the new 4520 elevates the Ventrac experience to a whole new level.

Rupert Price, managing director of Price Turfcare, the UK and Ireland distributor for Ventrac said they knew that Ventrac was the most versatile groundscare maintenance systems available to turf professionals in the UK. “Our sales, since we launched in 2017, verify this and with the launch of this new machine we have gone up a level. With 30% more available power, the performance is incredible. And, all existing attachments connect seamlessly to the new model. The machine looks similar to the previous model, with a few styling tweaks, but these latest refinements have enhanced an already excellent machine to a higher plane.” n www.priceturfcare.com

RECRUITMENT CRISIS

Retaining talent T

here is no denying that we are living in difficult times and that it is impacting all aspects of our lives. Prices are soaring, supply chains are stretched to beyond breaking point and staffing shortages are everywhere.

Anyone wishing to forget it all and fly off on holiday, well…

In the amenity sports turf sector things are no better.

Indeed, grass continues to grow and weeds continue to accumulate, if left unmanaged.

That puts added pressure on those tasked with maintaining high quality facilities and, for many, the prospect of a life away from the long hours, stress and unattractive pay, is too great.

Turf Matters has spoken to BIGGA, the GMA, some of those at the sharp end,trying to find ways to succeed in difficult circumstances, as well as one young ex-greenkeeper, who has left the industry.

While the current global crisis has brought everything to a head it is fair to say recruitment has been an issue in greenkeeping and grounds management for a number of years and both BIGGA and the GMA have worked hard to identify the root causes and explore solutions.

Jim Croxton, CEO of BIGGA, said that the issue had been there for a number of years but that the last couple of years had exacerbated it.

“The profession has to an extent created the problem itself because golfers now expect standards to be amazing all the time and that puts pressure on the greenkeepers. The expectation is that standards will be high in February and November, when years ago golf was only played six months of the year.”

Salaries have not kept pace at the bottom end of the scale and are not where they should be, although the independent recommendations

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are above the living wage.

Progression isn’t good enough at the smaller to medium sized clubs.

“Those who come into the profession love it for the first two years and then in years three and four begin to think that it’s not for them because there is little potential progression until Deputy or Course Manager level,” said Jim, adding that the pandemic gave people time to pause and reflect.

“I’ve spoken to people who have taken time out or left the

of golf clubs who have recognised that they have good teams which they want to retain, and have given 10%-15% pay rises – focusing on the bottom end of the team.

“I’ve been really pleased with the willingness of the key bodies, like the Golf Club Managers Association, to work with us, and the results of a recent survey we carried out are going to describe a major problem which, when articulated correctly, will spur these bodies into further action.

Jim Croxton

Geoff Webb

professional totally and they are doing lawncare, landscaping, driving – using the practical skills that they’ve got in other areas. If they wanted to train to be a lorry driver they could be earning £60,000 a year.”

The problem is twofold. Recruiting to the industry and retaining those who are already working within it.

“The number of people leaving the industry is more than it has been, so you have to recruit even more in a difficult market to offset those who are leaving.”

Such is the nature the problem, and the huge consequences to the game as a whole of not to being able to maintain courses successfully, BIGGA has been in discussions with the R&A, the Home Unions and the other concerned bodies within the game.

So potential solutions…

“I’ve already spoken to a number

“What we want is stronger messaging to golf clubs on how they need to value their staff, and that’s not just through pay, we want our staff to be more insulated from the grief that they get from golfers.

“The structure of our industry puts the Course Manager, or turf professional, too close to the consumer, without adequate buffers.

You develop a thick skin, but it still hurts. For many greenkeepers their course is like another child to them, so if the course is criticised it is akin to calling their kids ugly!” said Jim. A better recognition of the difficulties involved in maintaining golf courses in the current climate – with supply chain issues; cost of fuel; the cost of fertiliser; delivery times on new machinery; irrigation part shortages, not to mention the staffing, would be welcomed by those working within the profession.

“At least a recognition that,

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“THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LEAVING THE INDUSTRY IS MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN, SO YOU HAVE TO RECRUIT EVEN MORE IN A DIFFICULT MARKET TO OFFSET THOSE WHO ARE LEAVING.” what greenkeepers are dealing with, is similar to that which golfers, in their professional lives, are dealing with, would help.”

Finding new staff is going to require some “outside of the box” thinking, but it looks as though there are some “outside of the box” thinkers out there.

BIGGA been working closely with the GCSAA, with a view to bringing a version of their First Green programme over here. It sees golf clubs opening their doors to

Steve Lloyd

schools to showcase all the various jobs that running a golf club can entail – from the golf professional, golf club management, catering and hospitality and greenkeeping itself.

“We are also working more closely with the Armed Forces, and those in the Public Sector, so that when guys retire they can look to jobs working on golf courses.

“We’d have to make the jobs flexible, as these guys wouldn’t necessarily want to get up for a 6am start or work weekends, but they could be very valuable assets to a golf club,” said Jim. Over at the GMA, Geoff Webb and his team have been pushing hard on all the long-term projects that are already in place.

“We’ve just conducted a workplace survey, something which we will continue to do, which will enable us to monitor trends,” revealed Geoff.

The headlines of the latest survey showed that more than a third of professionals in the industry were over 55; 10% were over 65 and only 3% were in the 16- 24 age group; 96% were male and 3% were nonwhite. Professional sports clubs and independent schools were the biggest employers, employing more than half of professional grounds people.

“Our survey showed that 3,220 people are expected to retire in the next three years. We picked that up in 2019 as well, so it is

David Cole

following the same trend. We called it the profession’s ticking time bomb,” said Geoff, but adding that, positively, job satisfaction rates are high at around 86% Having gathered those stark predictions the GMA’s role is to forewarn the bodies governing the various sports of the impact to their sport, whether that be to the voluntary or professional sector.

“The job we face is to ensure that grounds people are valued and remunerated fairly with the ultimate goal of raising the bar for everyone,” said Geoff.

Valuing the job of groundsmen and women is an on-going struggle, “I call it the Grass Ceiling, and we need to get the Chairmen and Owners of football clubs to point out the value of their staff.

“And it’s not just football, When the decision makers in cricket

agreed to expand the formats of the game, now to include the 100, did they consider the impact on resources and budgets? Did they expect groundsmen to work seven days a week without a break to make it all work?”

The GMA, together with all governing bodies, are developing career structures through their Grounds Management Framework and working with colleges to provide appropriate courses. ”We want management-led training, appropriate for this day and age and appropriate for the level of facility, to enable a career to be developed. That way career pathways can be mapped out” At entry level the Schools in Stadiums initiative – similar to the GCSAA’s First Green programme – and brought in by the GMA’s Young Board, sees school children exposed to all aspects to stadium life. Mothballed during the pandemic these days will be reinstated shortly.

“We did these at Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester, and I can remember John Ledwidge talking to some 14 year olds on the pitch and some asking if they could volunteer. The look on their faces when he said yes was unbelievable.”

Steve Lloyd is Course Manager at The Worcestershire Golf Club, and current BIGGA Chairman.

“I haven’t really had an issue getting posts filled, because I do take a different approach, something which works for us as we do have a bigger team. A lot of adverts look for the same person – someone with three years’ experience, Level 2 and spraying certificates. I’d rather go for someone with a good attitude and a work ethic and train them from scratch,” said Steve, who got 38 applications and ended up employing two, from a simple local ad. }

TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 53

RECRUITMENT CRISIS

MAKING TURF MATTER

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“...THE PAY IS TERRIBLE, BUT ALSO YOU ARE TIED TO WORKING EVERY HOUR WHEN THE WEATHER IS GREAT AND THEN SENT HOME ON A MISERABLE WET DAY WHEN YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING” }

Steve is also an advocate of being flexible and looking to bring in people slightly older, who have had other jobs and who are looking for a change.

“I have a guy who was a postman for 30 years, was a member of the club and it was a life-style change for him. It’s a great environment for people. They are left to their own devices, and out in the fresh air..

“These people are out there, but we need to let them know that it is an option for them – everyone would be a winner!”

Steve is also currently trialling another project which could in the longer term.

“I’ve got a Husqvarna robot mower cutting two of my fairways.

Fairways are cut at 5.30am, so there is no interruption to golf, cheap to run, and it frees staff up to do other tasks,” said Steve.

“The golf business and greenkeeping roles like all businesses is going through a cycle of labour challenges.”

Recruitment and retention challenges in greenkeeping was bubbling away before the pandemic but the pandemic and Brexit has to some degree magnified the problem.

It has made people refocus their lives and most are looking for better work life balance, according to David Cole at Loch Lomond Golf Club.

As we started this conversation David was on a tractor brushing in topdressing sand as he and his team are trying to deal with their own recruitment challenges and shift changes made to his team to improve work life balance.

It’s hard to put your finger on it as it’s not just one thing, but to David there are a few significant factors: 1. Brexit has reduced the workforce pool and there are fewer recruits coming into the industry than ever.

2. We work unsociable hours with very early starts to carry out all the multiple golf course set up work, mowing and spraying schedules, and course conditioning activities before a busy day of golf. Weekend and bank holiday working is regular.

3. Most greenkeeping roles require you to work in all

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elements and when the weather is not favourable, everyone must work even harder.

4. Without sounding too old school, social media society puts peer pressure on people especially the young, and instant gratification and higher competitive wages and flexible working patterns from the outset are expected.

5. The increase in the cost of living, the rise of the minimum wage and salary competition is offering more opportunities to earn more than ever.

6. There is still a perception that greenkeepers are just grass cutters, but there is so much more that goes towards becoming a proper greenkeeper.

Angus Roberts

“We need to do better at promoting the job and not be so humble and modest about to what it takes to manage golf courses and their grounds,” said David.

“We are keen to educate and encourage golfers to engage and assist. Since the pandemic, golf has had a surge in popularity, which means more rounds and more traffic and golfers need to take more responsibility when it comes to course etiquette and repairing ball marks, raking bunkers, replacing divots, something which appears to have slipped since the pandemic,” said David, who is part of a BIGGA group tasked with ways of promoting the industry.

“They also must appreciate that staff shortages, climate change and tighter chemical regulations have meant certain detailed tasks are not carried out as often as they should be, and turf conditioning will always take priority. A little help and gratitude go a long way.”

“When I started I could never have imagined all the places in the

world I have now visited. The world is your oyster, and you can make a good living if you work hard, find a good mentor, constantly network, and attend education events. It won’t be handed to you.”

Angus Roberts was Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year in 2015 and, at 22, was Deputy Course Manager at The Roxburghe in the Scottish Borders. He gave it up to run his own landscaping and turf maintenance business.

“There were a number of factors to it. The obvious thing to say is that the pay is terrible, but you are also tied to working every hour when the weather is great and then sent home on a miserable, wet day when you can’t do anything,” he explained.

“I didn’t mind working weekends, but coming in for two or three hours scuppers any plans that you might have for a weekend, and you had to get to your bed early,” said Angus, who was running his own business in conjunction with his full-time job before deciding to drop greenkeeping.

“I got into greenkeeping as I played golf and needed summer work. I worked at The Roxburghe for three summers and loved it.

I was learning all the time and moving up the mowers, always excited to see what was next.”

But ultimately, despite winning the Toro award and being promoted from First Assistant to Deputy, he found he wasn’t enjoying it.

“I just got bored and fell out of love with it. What I’m loving now is that I’ve got so many different jobs and new challenges all the time. I’m working on improving people’s lawns while I maintain six bowling greens, cricket squares and rugby pitches,” said Angus, who cuts the Kelso Rugby Club pitch, the same one he plays on as a winger for the first team.

“I don’t regret what I’ve done one bit. When you are running your own business, you create your own opportunities and your future is down to how hard you work.” n Turf Matters would love to talk with anyone, from any side of the industry, with views on how to resolve the recruitment issue.

Email: scott@turfmatters.co.uk

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SAGE PREVIEW

SAGE event expects to be twice the size The Sports & Grounds Expo is just around the corner, July 6-7, at The Three Counties Showground in Malvern.

Booking is live on the website and is advised for ease of entrance but not obligatory, you can also register on arrival.

Market leaders from a wide range of sectors within the sports and grounds industry will be exhibiting products, and providing live demonstrations so that visitors can see even the biggest kit in action, alongside this there is the opportunity to undertake free training courses and be involved with live discussions.

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR GROUNDS SPECIALISTS SUMMIT This year, sustainability has become an even more prominent priority across all industries and SAGE is proud to be hosting the first sustainability summit, on Wednesday July 6, in partnership with Bio-Circle.

There will also be an overview and live workshop for the Sustainability Summit on Thursday. The summit will be led by experts across the industry, and will provide guidance and support on how sustainable solutions can be achieved by businesses across the sports and grounds maintenance industry.

The panel, along with their colleagues, will be on hand to deliver tailored options for those looking to adopt processes that are more environmentally friendly.

With the government’s carbon net zero targets to comply with, more businesses have started to explore the different ways that they can reduce carbon emissions. The summit will target this topic head on and help to drive a better understanding of the priorities and solutions for the sports and grounds maintenance

industry regarding their responsibilities for reducing carbon emissions.

PROUD TO BE THE ‘HOME EVENT’ FOR GRASS SAGE are proud to announce that they are now the home event for GRASS, a newly launched forum built by a group of groundcare industry specialists.

GRASS stands for Groundcare Resources & Sustainability Suppliers, and is the innovative idea of Mark Tomlinson, Head of Environmental and Sustainability Stadia projects at Bio-Circle.

The new networking and support forum is a free to join group that supports all groundcare and other sporting industry sustainability projects, providing free advice and knowledge of sustainable pitch care.

Top grounds personnel, leading industry manufacturers and senior experts have come together to form a “go to group” that allows grounds staff to begin their own sustainability projects with support and advice.

Through the expert sustainable and environmental forum, GRASS will provide the latest information available all under one roof.

“By coming together and sharing knowledge, GRASS can help and support groundcare personnel with their sustainability projects. We want to help and protect our environment and make a difference,” explained Mark.

Everyone is welcome to attend SAGE 2022. Visitors from last year included educational institutions, local authorities and councils, contractors, construction managers and private estates.

SAGE invites all visitors to attend the networking event on the Wednesday afternoon, which will follow on from the summit, sponsored by Fleet Line Markers, everyone will get the opportunity to meet fellow industry professionals in a relaxed atmosphere, with live music and sponsored bar.

To register for SAGE 2022, please visit; www.sportsandgrounds.events.

Ventrac: Versatility that works This is Price Turfcare’s first venture at SAGE and they will be demonstrating the new Ventrac 4520 all-terrain compact tractor which has over 30 dedicated attachments designed specifically for the turf manager.

On Stand 7 their demonstration vehicle, equipped with 20- and 30-degree ramps, will be there so the team can put the machine through its paces on slopes that no other ride-on machine in the UK can tackle. Rupert Price, the company’s managing director, invites you to come and view this re-markably versatile machine and see for yourself why Ventrac has become the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ for the turfcare industry. Versatility that works, every day. n www.priceturfcare.com TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 55

SAGE PREVIEW

Look out for Redexim Verti-Drain and Verti-Cut As their 40th anniversary year continues, Redexim UK have announced they are returning to The Three Counties Showground for SAGE 2022 – bringing with them a selection of machinery that is critical to successful sports turf maintenance.

Visitors can expect to see the iconic Redexim Verti-Drain, alongside the VertiCut, making its first show appearance since the range was extended last year.

The new models in the Verti-Cut range have been developed in direct response to industry demand for precise scarification combined with a larger working width. With a choice between a 1.6m and 2.0m wide

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unit, the Verti-Cut range uses specially designed carbide-tipped blades to deliver effective removal of organic matter and lateral growth down to depths of 50mm.

Adjustment of the working depth can be done accurately and with ease via alterations to the front roller, which also helps the Verti-Cut negate scalping when working on undulating ground. As standard, the Verti-Cut comes with 2mm blades operating at a spacing of 30mm, though this can be increased to 58mm if required. 1mm and 3mm blades can also be specified as an optional extra.

Attendees will also be able to see the

high-speed, high-productivity Verti-Drain 2519. With its 1.9m working width and a PTO speed of up to 540rpm, the 2519 can cover almost 9000 sq.m per hour. Its ability to accept a range of tine options makes the Verti-Drain a versatile choice – suited to a range of ground conditions and capable of year-round operation.

The Redexim team, assisted by local dealers Tallis Amos Group, will be on hand across the two days to discuss the full machinery range which spans pedestrian, trailed and tractormounted solutions for natural, hybrid and synthetic surface maintenance.

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New products showcased

by Campey at SAGE Campey Turf Care Systems will once again be exhibiting at SAGE and using it to showcase the two new products launched earlier this year, The Vredo Single Compact overseeder DZ5 Series and the new Imants ShockWave.

The Vredo is perfect for anyone who overseeds grass or flower mixtures in the fine turf sector. They are renowned for their double-disc system that places seeds directly in the ground, and the new Single Compact model takes it a step further.

The famous double-disc system has been improved by guiding the seed even longer into the cut. The cutting disc diameter of 250 mm requires less weight to make a per-fect cut. In circumstances where penetration into the ground is difficult, handy suitcase weights can be added, and the calibration of the seed rate has been made even more user-friendly and precise.

“Lee Morgado, Campey Director explains: “The Single Compact Series is a unique, versatile and indestructible overseeder.

An all-rounder equipped with a single row of the well-known double-disc system, with a row spacing of 70 mm. The machine has a perfect weight-to-working width ratio and can be used with tractors with a relatively low lifting capacity.”

The new Imants ShockWave has been redesigned to be more ergonomic, effective and efficient, so delivering a linear decompactor with minimum surface disruption.

The ShockWave has been exceptionally successful in sports turf due to its immediate results and how quickly play can resume after use. While the machine is also popular for extensive, flatter areas of golf courses, the redesigned model responds to in-creased interest from greenkeepers who needed the machine to be more effective on undulating ground.

Other equipment available on the stand and for demonstration include the mini RotoKnife and the Alltrec electric mower and tool carrier. Using the AllTrec allows

reg-ular turf maintenance and areas of over grown vegetation to be controlled with zero emissions, minimal noise output and massively reduced vibration for operators, all of which help to improve green spaces without damaging the wider environment.

See Campey on Stand 45. n www.campeyturfcare.com

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BATTERY POWERED EQUIPMENT

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No range anxiety at Trent Bridge with Dennis

The battery power of the new Dennis ES-860 cylinder mower is impressing at Trent Bridge, home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.

For many years, turf professionals have been choosing Dennis for their cut quality and reliability, and recently the company introduced the next generation of its mowers. The new E-Series is a range of battery powered mowers that are no compromise alternatives to the range of petrol machines.

The E-Series range was built to

offer ultimate performance that helps professionals meet sustainability and environmental initiatives, reduce carbon footprint, emissions, running costs and noise without any range anxiety.

Hugh Beesley, an Assistant Groundsman, and one of two dedicated mowing operatives at Trent Bridge, which hosted the remarkable recent Test against New Zealand, revealed why he felt the E-Series would be a good fit.

“Approximately 90% of the equipment here is petrol and fuel focused.Trent Bridge needs to, and wants to, do better in terms of being green and we saw this as a great first step in the right direction,” said Hugh.

“Also, with the petrol issues and the prices of fuel becoming more and more expen-sive, we thought it made sense.

Quite often, multiple journeys to the petrol station would be made on a single day.

Therefore, the purchase of battery powered mowers is a long-term commitment to decreasing the fuel costs here.”

In their quest to find the ideal battery powered mower, Head Groundsman Steve Birks arranged for various brands to be demonstrated at Trent Bridge.

Hugh claims there was one which stood out to the entire grounds team.

“Steve made the final decision but collectively we all decided on the

one we liked best. We all felt that the Dennis ES-860 would suit our routine better than the others.”

This 34” battery powered turf management system delivers maximum versatility and the range of 13 interchangeable cassette options provide a solution to many day-to-day maintenance tasks such as cutting, scarifying, brushing, slitting and verticutting.

“We can comfortably mow the entire cricket outfield twice on just one charge with the Dennis ES-860. They have been in use consistently for a couple of months and we haven’t run them down to zero – even at 40%-50% we can still cut the whole outfield. It is great because you know you won’t have to start mowing and then stop to put them on charge. The ES-860’s give us the confidence to just keep on going.”

Hugh also praised the simplicity and the finish of the ES-860 and claims that the players have benefited from the low noise levels and useability.

“I love how the mower glides across the outfield and when you get to a corner you know you can just turn so easily, it is the smoothest machine I have ever used. You feel so safe and secure using it. The presentation it provides is perfect every time as well. n www.dennisuk.com

Award winning Etesia ET Lander now even better Following the successful launch of the ET Lander electric utility vehicle from Etesia UK in 2021, the company has announced the launch of the next phase of production including becoming fully N1 homologation compliant.

Customers first got the chance to view the utility vehicle at SALTEX in November,

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where it won the prestigious SALTEX 2021 Innovation award within the vehicle category, while also finishing second within the environmentally friendly category.

Coming off the production line in Wissembourg, France from last month, with the first sold machines arriving in the UK imminently, the new models will be fully N1 homologation compliant meaning that the ET Lander will be fully road legal, along with being able to be used off road.

The new models will feature lithiumion batteries meaning that the range of the ET Lander will extend to 100km and have a charger system compatible with a standard type 2EV car charger.

Built for use on road and off road in both the town and countryside, the Etesia ET Lander is 100% electric, spacious, well-equipped and user-friendly.

With a length of just 3.72 metres, the ET Lander is very compact. Thanks to the power steering, the short turning radius of 4.40 metres and 360 degree visibility, it goes anywhere. Fitted with a Lithium battery the autonomy of the vehicle lasts for a full working day – without noise pollution.

The ET Lander can transport loads of up to 940kgs and can also tow up to 750kgs. With its all-road tires and powerful transmission, it is a real allterrain vehicle for use in a variety of conditions on slopes and difficult terrain.

Furthermore, life is made easier for its users through the integrated loading ramps – which allow for the transport of materials, ride-on mowers and other grounds maintenance equipment. n www.etlander.co.uk

BATTERY POWERED EQUIPMENT

IRRIGATION

Great finish and green too Ticking far more than just the ‘green’ box, a pair of Infinicut mowers are delivering a first-class finish at Stanley Park Sports Ground – a 47-acre facility, owned, managed and maintained

by Chippenham Town Council.

More than 100 teams of all ages and levels call Stanley Park their home, including Forest Green Rovers FC, who have used the venue for first-team training

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for the last four seasons. It is here that the combination of a 34” FX cylinder and SM34 Rotary are perfecting both pre- and post-match presentation.

Chippenham Town Council are two years into their pledge of becoming a ‘Carbon-Neutral’ Council by 2030 – with all areas of their operation, including their grounds maintenance, under review for cleaner, greener alternatives.

“While we’re keen to be investing in more sustainable solutions to our everyday tasks, it is critical that any equipment we procure produces the results we need to fulfil the expectations of the professional teams we host,” said Paul Harvey. Head of Leisure Services.

“It was evident from the first demonstration that the Infinicut range was a perfect fit for us - meeting our carbon objectives but also delivering a fantastic quality of cut, and presentation that is second to none.” This strong first impression led to the purchase of a 34” FX cylinder mower in May 2021.

“We use this for FGR’s pitch preparations and across some of the other pitches on the site when we need to elevate

presentation to the next level. Switching to a pedestrian mower has also enabled us to keep heavier equipment off the surfaces, noticeably reducing issues associated with drainage and compaction.”

To complement their 34” FX, the council further invested this year in an Infinicut SM34 Rotary, delivered in April by local dealer Hunt Forest Group.

“After consultations with Oliver Hall, at Infinicut, a dedicated Rotary machine for the clean-up cut was the next step for us.

The powerful suction of the SM34 stands the plant up and removes any debris, leaving the pitch absolutely spotless! In the short time we’ve had this machine, it has already made a huge difference.”

“As a council, we have strict budgets we must work to so purchasing the right machines for the job at hand is essential” Paul concludes. “The Infinicut mowers are not only helping us to fulfil our green objectives but the professional presentation they deliver has not gone unnoticed, undoubtedly helping us to secure a recent contract extension with Forest Green, who are now staying with us for at least another season.”

MAKING TURF MATTER

www.turfmatters.co.uk

Benefits of genuine batteries It is always recommended that only genuine spares are purchased for tools and machinery, but this is particularly important when buying additional or replacement batteries.

Here, Mark Earles, Business Development Manager for Outdoor Power Equipment at Makita UK, looks at the issues with non-genuine batteries and how to ensure the right products are purchased.

There are two key types of non-genuine battery. The first – cheaper products from third party manufacturers that claim to be equivalent to the genuine version.

The second is counterfeit items that are advertised as genuine and purchased inadvertently. Low quality or counterfeit products can have a number of issues including safety, performance and machine longevity.

In recent years, significant advances have been made in cordless technology to deliver the performance, run times and charge times that professionals require. To achieve this, manufacturers such as Makita have invested heavily in research and development to produce lithium-ion batteries with the essential high energy density and rapid recharge rates. This also requires precision engineering to control charge and discharge current, cell voltage and temperature as well as ensure ‘stability’.

By contrast, it is extremely unlikely that this level of attention, quality assurance and testing will have been applied in the production of the cheapest or counterfeit products on the market. Therefore, these products can present a serious hazard. One potential issue is that if the temperature of a lithium-ion battery is not controlled correctly, it can result in a ‘thermal runaway’.

This can in turn cause the battery to overheat and catch fire, or in the very worst-cases, explode.

Furthermore, for non-genuine batteries, the lack of engineering and development that is common also means that its level of performance cannot be guaranteed and, in many

cases, can be far below what is expected. Both run-times and the performance of the machine or tool may be limited, making work harder and more time-consuming.

Additionally, the use of nongenuine batteries can significantly affect the longevity of both the tool and battery. This is because the battery, tool and even the chargers will have been engineered to work together. For example, Makita lithium-ion batteries, cordless tools and chargers include technology that allows an exchange of data in real time. For example, the tool will automatically shut down if an overload or overheating in the battery or the tool is detected. It also automatically stops before the battery becomes over-discharged.

Similarly, if the battery is warm when it is placed on the charger this will be detected and the charger will cool it before it begins recharging.

Using a third-party battery prevents this technology from working and removes this important protection against damage. As a result, cheap products can be a false economy as they may not last and even cause damage.

The first indication will often be the look of the product and packaging. Counterfeit items may have spelling errors or variations in the logo design. A lso, manufacturers often include unique or difficult to imitate design features on their products, such as Makita’s trademark logo and the STAR connectivity mark on all Makita lithium-ion batteries. If these elements are missing, then it is counterfeit.

However, these indications are not always apparent when purchasing online. Despite this, an indication of a poor quality product is often the price. There is usually a reason why the item is cheap and if ‘it seems too good to be true’ it probably is.

If the product does not match what is expected when it arrives then it should not be used. If there is any doubt about the authenticity, Makita offers an inspection service (with the proof of purchase of the battery) at

its Factory Service Centres.

Finally, it is always recommended that batteries are only purchased from a trusted supplier, such as manufacturer authorised dealers and merchants. They will only stock genuine products and so customers can be sure of quality.

Low quality or counterfeit batteries present a hazard to

users, can be damaging to the tools and machines they are used with and may deliver a lower level of performance. What’s more, the use of counterfeit batteries can invalidate manufacturer’s tool warranties. Purchasing genuine products provides a guarantee of quality and safety. n www.makitauk.com

TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 61

BATTERY POWERED EQUIPMENT

MAKING TURF MATTER

www.turfmatters.co.uk

A petrol-free future The future is here. As a matter of personal choice and, in some places, the law, petrol powered lawn and garden maintenance equipment is gradually becoming a thing of the past.

Throughout the last decade, millions of homeowners decided to purchase battery-powered garden care tools instead of petrol-powered ones, but the power requirements, runtime and practicalities have meant that it is more difficult for professionals to make the shift.

In 2021, lawmakers in California, USA voted to phase-out the sale of petrol-powered lawn equipment by 2024, making it the first state in the USA to do so. The UK have promised changes will come in shortly thereafter, currently 2025, but if the technology is available now, why wait to make the change!

Battery tech has rapidly improved to compete with petrol power, so that today’s lithium-ion rechargeable

62 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

battery powered equipment really is an effective, cleaner, quieter alternative to petrol. And by bypassing the currently very high, ongoing costs of petrol as well as engine maintenance, you can negate any initial price difference in as little as a single season.

Taking it a step further, the

introduction of robotic lawn mowers could become the next revolution in lawn care. Rather than using more power, these programmable smart devices use less power, more efficiently.

They mow at programmed times, multiple times per week, so that the grass always looks great.

Robotic Mowers mow even when the team is not on site, plus many, like the Kress range of Mission range of Robot Mowers can avoid obstacles, adjust to weather, and even alert the owner in the case of theft or other emergency.

Lightweight, efficient, and increasingly powerful corded and rechargeable lawn care tools like the unique 60V range from Kress are well positioned to take on the work that is currently performed by petrol-powered tools. In the light of cleaner air and less noise, the future of gardening and landscaping looks brighter than ever.

MAKING TURF MATTER

PITCH MAINTENANCE

www.turfmatters.co.uk

Measure of success Reece Watson, of RAW, outlines how you can track your pitch’s improvement When monitoring the progression of the pitch, we always ask, how was your pitch last year?

Without taking and logging data nobody can answer this question accurately. Keeping a record of your pitch helps to show others (and yourself) how your pitch has performed over time.

A good way of monitoring your pitches’ progression is by taking density data including the colour of your turf. n Has it improved with the fertiliser products you apply or the maintenance you have carried out? n Do you need more exposure of your pitch to artificial lights? n Has it degraded due to more usage, a cut in budget or even the weather conditions?

SO, HOW DO YOU MEASURE THE DENSITY?

You can start by subjectively scoring areas of the pitch, based on your own opinion. This is subjective to who is looking at it. For instance, I may score your pitch an 8/10, whereas you might

score it a 6/10. Consider that this scoring also depends on your mood and past experiences.

This is where the Raw Stadia Density Scanner comes in handy.

Using merely your smartphone (IOS or Android), you can now scan your turf’s density, and collect accurate data within minutes. Enabling you to compare pitch A to pitch B and monitor the pitch density trend over time. This measurement takes away subjectivity and provides a fair assessment of your pitch. Allowing you to show the pitches’ improvement to management clearly and concisely.

All you need is your smartphone and the Density Scanner on the Raw Stadia app. Go to the location on the pitch you want to check, hold the smartphone at hip level, and your device will scan the area of approximately a square meter.

The measurement will then be sent directly to the Raw Stadia Platform. It is that easy.

The technology uses specific sensors in your smartphone to monitor the amount of grass and the

plant’s colour.

You can see in the images one of our customers who has been monitoring the density of their pitches. This data is crucial to analyse which pitch is underperforming and to compare data of previous seasons to date, for instance, when the pitch lost its goalmouths last season.

Another benefit of the Raw Stadia Density Scanner is that it reminds the management of when the pitches were at their worst. This is important because most budget rounds are decided when the pitches are recovering again in spring (and look their best).

Raw Stadia’s integrated Density Scanner software is one of the many tools to improve and analyse your pitch.

The Raw Stadia platform and surface testing technologies help customers improve their knowledge of the playing surface and gain insights into how the pitch conditions, which change daily, influence their players and athletes. n www.rawstadia.com

Introducing:

LANDSCAPING The newest title in the landscaping sector is here. Landscaping Matters is a website and monthly e-zine aimed at offering those within the landscaping industry news, views and information sharing opportunities.

We aim to use the same model which has been so successful with Turf Matters and grow Landscaping Matters to be a key title within the industry.

Visit landscapingmatters.co.uk TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 63

MANAGEMENT

BUYERS’ GUIDE

BUYERS’ GUIDE Golf Course Management Consultant

Golf Course Advice; Locum Greenkeeper Service; Project Management; Practical Solutions for Genuine Problems www.billymcmillanassociates.co.uk Tel: 07774 632747

To advertise contact Marie Anderson email: marie@turfmatters.co.uk FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES

MACHINERY MACHINERY

TURF CONTRACTORS

MOWERS

Toro Reelmaster 5010-H with PowerMatch

Horsepower on Demand

+41 7657 10184

s arrived.

ble 1

www.etesia.co.uk

GRASS SEED

0118 3914540 jamie@advancegrass.com

www.toro5010.com

info@flexgrass.ch www.flexgrass.ch

EQUIPMENT

TC1038 Turf Matters Buyers Guide.indd 1

21/12/2015 17:35

Bringing technical excellence and service to turf and groundcare

WETTING AGENTS SOIL SURFACTANTS ORGANIC FERTILISERS

www.wiedenmann.co.uk 0141 814 3366

01233 633267 UK.aquatrols.com

www.pellenc.co.uk www.mm-seeds.co.uk/ GOLF BUNKERS

ble 2

MACHINERY Leading by design • Turf Cutters

Turf Matters | February-March 2016 | 33

• Turf Aerators 04/03/2016 14:05

andy@whitemosseco.org.uk www.CompleteBunkerSolutions.com

LINE MARKING

WE BUY AND SELL ALL GROUNDCARE PLANT AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

• Core Collectors info@groundsmanindustries.com

www.groundsmanindustries.com

EQUIPMENT

www.campeyturfcare.com

Telephone: 01260 224 568 Email: info@campeyturfcare.com

IRRIGATION ALWAYS WANTED: Golf Buggies, All Mowers, Compact Tractors, Quads, Atv’s, Diggers, Dumpers, Trailers, Chippers, Boats, Caravans, Forklifts and much more and in ANY condition.

NEED TO FREE UP YOUR VALUABLE WORKSHOP AND YARD SPACE?

Call 07912 346037 – 01963 363512 sales@allterraintrader.co.uk www.allterraintrader.co.uk

64 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

GRASS CUTTING MACHINERY

MAKING TURF MATTER

MOWERS

GRASS SEED

www.turfmatters.co.uk

AERATORS

www.dennisuk.com TYRES BATTERY-POWERED EQUIPMENT SCARIFIERS

Petrol has had its day.

…because

TURF

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

www.pellenc.co.uk

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES

TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 65

BUYERS’ GUIDE AERATION

MAKING TURF MATTER

EQUIPMENT

www.turfmatters.co.uk

Invicta Groundcare Equipment Ltd

www.sisis.com

SYNTHETIC SURFACES

MACHINE HIRE Hadnall, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 3DH

Tel: 01939 211900

www.trencherhire.com Pedestrian chain trenchers and mole-ploughs for hire across the UK.

Equipment built with experience

Self-drive machines for: H Drainage projects H Irrigation installations H Cable & water mains laying H Hedge planting

EQUIPMENT WASH DOWN www.synprobysisis.com SPRAYERS AND SPRAYING

One of Europe’s largest quality used golf machinery buyers

PROFESSIONAL SPRAYERS

www.berthoud.fr/en/ ROLLERS

FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES

InvictaTurfcare

Call us on 01474 874120

Invicta_groundcare

www.invicta-groundcare.co.uk

TURF RECRUIT Looking for your next move?

Turf Recruit has quickly become the largest resource for ALL industry jobs. With EVERY job in one place you’ll never miss an opportunity again.

Simply browse hundreds of jobs and find the one for you!

Are you an employer looking to recruit?

FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES

l Featured in the Turf Recruit section of the website –our most visited page

TRACTORS

l Featured in our monthly dedicated jobs e-shot – sent to over 26,000 industry professionals l No time limitations – the job remains listed online until you FILL IT l Regular social media promotion of your job to an audience of over 15,000 and growing

Kioti UK Ltd Abbotsley Golf Hotel, Potton Road, St Neots, Cambs PE19 6XN Telephone 01480-401512 www.kioti-uk.com

66 | TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022

To find out more contact Marie Anderson

Email: marie@turfmatters.co.uk Tel: 07841 927500

www.turfmatters.co.uk

CARING ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Shout is the UK’s first and only free, 24/7, confidential text message support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

If you’re feeling worried, stressed or like you have nobody to talk to, you are not alone. Shout is always only a text message away. Shout’s trained volunteers are there to support you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with whatever you are going through.

Every day, Shout takes around 2,100 conversations with children, young people and adults across the UK who need in-the-moment

support with issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness, relationships, racism, self-harm, suicide, grief and so much more.

As a digital service, Shout provides a private and silent way to communicate,

alleviating some of the pressure many people feel around talking about their worries out loud. The service is also confidential, anonymous and won’t show up on your phone bill.

Shout is available around the clock. Most people text Shout for support at night and into the early hours of the morning, when the majority of other support services are closed and when many people are feeling alone and struggling with their mental health.

Anyone in the UK can text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 to start a conversation any time of the day or night. Shout Volunteers work to take you from a moment of distress to a calm, safe place and help you come up with a plan to move forwards.

If your life is at imminent risk, please call 999. n For more information, advice and support, visit: giveusashout.org

LET’s START THE CONVERSATION Every day, we go through things that can make life that little bit harder: stress at work, money worries, having a row with a mate, going through a break-up or your kids getting into trouble – the list goes on.

When times are tough, it can be hard to know what to do next or where to turn for help.

No matter what life throws at you, Shout is just a text away.

DID YOU KNOW?

n 1 in 8 men have a mental health problem n Three times as many men as women die by suicide n Men report being less satisfied with their lives than women

ASKING FOR HELP

Despite how many men in the UK experience mental health problems, lots don’t get help or speak to other people about what they’re feeling.

Why? Stigma and what society expects of men can play a big role.

Men can feel that they need to be strong, dominant and in control.

While these aren’t inherently bad things, they can make it harder to ask for help and open up.

Men are also more likely to turn to harmful ways to cope, like drugs or alcohol, rather than talking to family or friends.

STARTING A CONVERSATION WITH SHOUT Shout is the UK’s first and only

free, 24/7, confidential text support service for anyone struggling to cope.

It can be hard to talk about your problems out loud, so texting gives you a private, silent way to take that first step towards getting the help you need and deserve.

And you aren’t alone: n 16,000 boys and men have texted Shout for help so far in 2022 n Men text us about depression, suicide, anxiety and stress, relationship problems, loneliness and much more n 2 in 3 men text Shout outside of 9am-5pm, when most other support services are closed

Whatever you’re going through, text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained volunteer, any time of the day or night. Your conversation won’t show up on your phone bill.

COULD YOU BECOME A SHOUT VOLUNTEER?

We’re looking for more volunteers to help men when they need it most.

You’ll get 25 hours of free training, gain skills that will help you at work and in your personal life, and get to volunteer whenever suits you.

Find out more and apply today: giveusashout.org/volunteer/ TURF MATTERS | JULY-AUGUST 2022 | 67