VOL. 26 | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024
DLF supports the scale and scope of top-level sport at Cranleigh School
Topdressing – why, when and how
Good GKB deliveries come in three’s for SCHLOSS Roxburghe INFINICUT
Expansion at Cabot Highlands demands expansion of INFINICUT® mower fleet!
Working in Partnership with
Welcome to Groundskeeping Journal, the UK’s leading bi-monthly publication providing latest product innovations, industry news and opinions from key professionals within the industry. With focuses on Aeration, Irrigation & Drainage; Greenskeeping; Latest News; Machinery; Pitch & Line Marking; Specialist Mowers; Sports Ground Equipment; Sports Pitches; Top Dressing; Sprayers & Spraying and Turf Management.
Head greenkeeper’s Christmas present was a Ventrac
9 Vanmac
Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents significant time and fuel savings for Newmarket Racecourse
14 DLF
DLF supports the scale and scope of top-level sport at Cranleigh School
16 GKB
Good GKB deliveries come in three’s for SCHLOSS Roxburghe
18 Redexim
Topdressing – why, when and how
28 Soluform
The perfect solution to rebuild structure
30 Mansfield Sand
Mansfield Sand’s impact at Kibworth Golf Club
32 INFINICUT
Expansion at Cabot Highlands demands expansion of INFINICUT® mower fleet!
40 Sustane
Suståne improving disease resistance from the ground up at Ely City Golf Club
41 Agrovista
Aberdovey Golf Club reports impressive results with Maxtima
Pesticide legislation and a changing climate has radically altered how we can manage Microdochium nivale. OAS’ 20-20-30 Tank Mix combines Turfite® Elite, Liquid Turf Hardener and Seamac® ProTurf Fe, together with Mantle®, to provide an extremely effective solution when building your IPM strategy against Microdochium nivale. It works by:
• Changing the leaf surface environment to make it harder for the pathogen to grow on and into the leaf surface.
• Stimulating the plant’s natural defence mechanism.
• Improving plant health/growth by stimulating root and shoot development and chlorophyll production. 20-20-30 Tank Mix A highly effective, non-pesticidal Microdochium nivale management strategy
Orders and enquiries:
ello and welcome to Groundskeeping Journal. Our publication has been created to showcase the very latest industry news and product information from the Groundskeeping sector.
In each edition we carry in depth articles from some of the industry leaders, the articles cover many aspects of Groundskeeping with some offering tips and advice on Sports Pitches, Turf Management, Greens Keeping and much, much more. Whether you are looking for tips and advice on creating the perfect green or looking to source
the right product for your synthetic surface GKJ has it all.
Our vision is to connect our readers with professionals and suppliers working within their sector and we hope that we have created a platform that will become a must have tool for anyone working within the industry.
Many thanks for taking the time to read our publication, we hope you enjoy the read and if you would like to keep up to date with all things GKJ then make sure you check out our subscribe page.
Editor-In-Chief
Antony Holter
editor@mhmagazine.co.uk 01304 806039
Editor
Emma Page
emma@groundskeepingjournal.co.uk 01304 806039
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Martin Holmes
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Sales Director
Lee Martin
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Josh Holmes josh@mhmagazine.co.uk 01304 806039
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Mosses can become a real nuisance in turf and on hard surfaces, especially over autumn/winter and early spring
There are over 700 types of moss in the UK, those that cause the most issues in gardens, parks, sports fields/courts, bowling, golf greens or on hard surfaces such as paving, driveways, tennis courts are: springy turf-moss, pointed spear-moss, silver-thread moss, cushion moss, roughstalked feather-moss and common haircap moss.
Causes
• Moss thrives in excessively damp conditions, so where you have excess moisture from poor or slow drainage, sitting water, high dew levels or excess/ leaky irrigation you will likely have moss.
• Shallow soils are not good for growing grass so in turn it becomes weak, this can encourage moss to grow as it will creep in where grass become weak and patchy.
• Cracks in paving and on roofs can retain moisture, providing the perfect growing environment for moss. Additionally, the lack of sunlight can help the moss thrive.
• Acidic soils are favourable, so these make it easier for moss to establish.
• Shaded areas and over hanging trees cause damp, dark conditions, often with dripping from overhanging trees, lack of airflow and areas staying colder
Hard surface cleaners such as MMC Pro or Prestige Super Hard Surface Cleaner are versatile products for large areas such as patios, playgrounds, tennis courts, driveways, block-paving walls and roofs.
or humid. These are all excellent conditions for moss establishment.
In general, where grass is weak or areas are damp, such as high traffic areas, summer stress patches that have not recovered and poorly drained hard surfaces, moss can develop and because it doesn’t have true roots it spreads quickly, taking up as much space as possible to gain as much moisture as possible.
Hard surface cleaners such as MMC Pro or Prestige Super Hard Surface Cleaner are versatile products for large areas such as patios, playgrounds, tennis courts, driveways, block-paving walls and roofs. As well as moss, they also clean away mould, algae and lichen without the need for scrubbing.
Prestige No. 1 Lawnsand powder fertiliser contains 7% iron which hits moss hard turning it black and allowing it to be raked out 7 - 10 days later. Alternatively, a soluble iron such as Prestige Heptasol or Ferromex liquid iron can be sprayed on to blacken moss for it to be raked out. For tougher moss e.g. Silver-thread moss, use Prestige Super Acidifier at 27 ltr/Ha in 700 ltr water.
For more information on moss control, contact a Collier Turf Care Area Sales representative or our office on 01328 700600 sales@collier-turf-care.co.uk
From Collier Turf Care
Contractors, Sandoe & Sons from Nanstallon, Bodmin purchased a Mega Twister blower and a Terra Spike GXi8 HD, a year apart, from Wiedenmann UK’s Cornwall dealer, Mason Kings. at St Columb Major.
The family-owned company is a three-way partnership of brothers Glyn and John, with father, Roger. Some of their work involves path clearance on each of The Camel Trail at Wadebridge, The Clay Trails of St Austell and Tolgus Mining Trails at Redruth. They are also building up a portfolio of turf maintenance clients.
In the hands of a good operator, the Mega Twister is particularly impressive; knowing the different angles means you can peel off slippy leaves like wallpaper. It makes the process faster, with less wear on the equipment and fuel is preserved.”
Glyn Sandoe said: “We’ve picked up additional work on the strength of how well a job we’ve been doing with the new equipment.
“We use the Mega for blowing off mainly leaves and debris, but sometimes I’ll use it to displace fine mud or water. When we had snow, we used it then, too.
“If you give a surface a good hard blow off and sweep, it’s noticeably
cleaner when you go back in the summer. In the hands of a good operator, the Mega Twister is particularly impressive; knowing the different angles means you can peel off slippy leaves like wallpaper. It makes the process faster, with less wear on the equipment and fuel is preserved.”
“Our Terra Spike had a great first season and word has spread that we are available for sports turf as well as private estate contracts. The neatness and uniformity of holes always pleases the client but for me, and the rest of the team, the smoothness and easy set up with the GXi8 is everything. The operator and the tractor are protected by three different shock absorbing features so spending a whole day in the cab is a pleasure.”
Wiedenmann UK For your local dealer call 0141 814 3366 or www.wiedenmann.co.uk Sandoe & Sons 07720 260958
Ticking the boxes for build quality and ease of use is a Progressive TDR22/6 tri-deck for the team at Newmarket Racecourse. Not only that, the new delivery by Vanmac in June 2024 complements a pair of Progressive TDR-15’s and - at 50% wider - has contributed to significant savings in both labour and fuel-usage according to Estates Manager Alan Hatherley.
An iconic stop on the equine circuit, Newmarket Racecourse comprises of two courses – The July Course and Rowley Mile – which, between them, play host to 37 race meets between April and the end of October. Alan has been working on the site for 20 years, and for the last 12 of those, has been using solutions from Progressive for mowing the 28-hectares of racing surface.
“We’ve always been really impressed with the build quality and the aftersales service we get with Progressive, but with managing challenges with the weather and ever-tightening mowing windows, the time was right to add something wider” explains Alan, who heads-up a team of nine grounds staff. “We went straight to Vanmac and spoke with Jeremy Vincent about the TDR-22/6 tri-deck.”
The TDR-22/6 tri-deck roller finishing mower from Progressive combines productivity with performance – its 22 foot (6.7m) combined width, and front and rear rollers, and unique 6 blade
rotors per deck deliver a precise and balanced cut, outstanding presentation and unbeatable contour following ability. “This, like our previous mowers, is well-built, not over-engineered and easy to maintain which, in practical terms, gives us a mower that’s userfriendly to operate and generally means fewer things to go wrong!”
Alan continues, “As soon as the TDR-22/6 tri-deck arrived at the end of June we were out with it straight away, to make the most of the time saving element. Where it used to take us nine hours to mow all areas of the two tracks, we can now complete the job in six. That
doesn’t just reduce labour and give us a better chance to mow ahead of forecasted rainfall, it presents a significant reduction in fuel usage which is a big step towards reducing our environmental footprint.”
“We don’t cut when it’s wet but will mow as and when required throughout the year so, a mild winter for example, will see us continuing to mow in December. With the TDR-22/6 tri-deck, we know we can confidently get the job done quickly and effectively, no matter the ground conditions.”
As the colder months approach, maintaining healthy, resilient turf becomes a critical focus for groundskeepers. The winter season can take a harsh toll on plant health, and ensuring your turf is prepared is key to minimising damage and keeping it vibrant for the months to come.
One of the most important steps in winter preparation is selecting the right fertiliser products. For this, higher potassium (K) formulations are essential. Potassium helps strengthen turf, making it more resistant to disease, cold stress, and the wearand-tear of winter conditions. It’s vital to concentrate on nutrients that enhance plant strength without promoting unwanted growth.
Velvit Fertilisers from GreenBest offer a range of winter-ready solutions, each designed to protect and nourish turf in these challenging conditions:
Shea 6-4-12 + 2% MgO 2-3mm is an organo-mineral fertiliser designed to boost recovery and prepare turf for the colder season. Its unique combination of mineral fertilisers and organic materials from shea seed processing provides excellent nourishment. Added magnesium (MgO) ensures vibrant green-up as the turf goes dormant, making it a perfect fit for pre-winter applications.
Vel-sea Liquid Seaweed 4-4-12 + 4% Seaweed combines the power of potassium and seaweed extract to increase turf’s hardiness without driving unnecessary growth. This product is ideal for those looking to strengthen their turf’s resilience to winter stresses while avoiding over-stimulation.
First & Last Liquid Fertiliser stimulates root development and enhances turf’s tolerance to disease and environmental stress. It’s perfect for providing maximum protection while maintaining high turf quality throughout the colder months.
Purity Soil Conditioner (granular or liquid) is ideal for early autumn and winter, enhancing soil with organic matter. It promotes the establishment of Fescues, Bents, and Rye grasses, improves root
mass, and boosts nutrient uptake. Acting as a biostimulant, it increases stress tolerance, speeds up seedling growth, and aids in disease resistance. Suitable for all turf types, it prepares plants to enter dormancy strong and healthy.
Command 7-0-14 + 2% MgO + 4% Fe 1-2mm is a tailor-made autumn product enriched with seaweed and zeolites to improve soil structure and nutrient uptake. With added iron and magnesium for turf hardiness and vibrant colour, this fertiliser is best applied between October and March to ensure optimal results throughout the winter.
When winter preparation is done right, turf not only survives the cold but thrives into the spring. With Velvit Fertilisers, you can ensure your turf remains strong, healthy, and ready to bounce back.
You can purchase Velvit Fertilisers through GreenBest-approved distributors or contact the FACTSqualified GreenBest Sales team by email, or phone.
sales@greenbest.co.uk www.greenbest.co.uk +44(0)1963 364788
Daniel Mackenzie, owner of DM Sports Turf Solutions, is a rising star in the world of sports turf management. A former Greenkeeper at Canons Brook Golf Club in Harlow, Essex, and an accomplished county bowls player, Daniel now runs a successful business maintaining seven bowling greens across various clubs.
Daniel’s connection with Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) began during his time at Canons Brook, where he first met Laurence McCrory, OAS’s Technical Sales Manager. This relationship has been pivotal in Daniel’s success, particularly in managing a problematic disease—Dollar Spot— that threatened to overwhelm one of his key clients, Wallfields Bowls Club in Hertford.
Dollar Spot has presented a recurring issue across all the bowling greens Daniel maintains. However, thanks to the tailored programme developed with OAS, he has successfully controlled the disease across the board.
Two years ago, Wallfields Bowls Club experienced one of the most severe outbreaks of Dollar Spot that Daniel had ever encountered. Dollar Spot, caused by the fungus Sclerotinia homeocarpa, thrives in humid conditions—perfectly suited to bowling greens in the UK
during the summer and autumn.
“This was the worst outbreak of Dollar Spot I had ever seen,” Daniel recalls. At the time, Dollar Spot was still relatively new to the UK turf industry, and very few people knew how to manage it effectively.
It was at this point that Daniel turned to Laurence for expert advice. “Laurence introduced me to Exteris Stressgard and devised a feeding programme to help manage the disease with minimal fungicide use.”
Exteris Stressgard, the first combination SDHI fungicide introduced to the UK turf market, was engineered by Envu and contains a revolutionary chemical group—the first of its kind in nearly a decade. It offers top-notch disease
management and promotes plant health, a crucial factor in combatting Dollar Spot.
Daniel applied Exteris Stressgard twice in the first year, bringing the outbreak under control. Since then, he has integrated it into a comprehensive programme using OAS products, including seed, nutrition, fungicides, and dressings, alongside tools like the SmithKerns Dollar Spot model to monitor conditions and anticipate outbreaks.
Now in his third year of managing Dollar Spot at Wallfields and other bowling greens, Daniel applies Exteris Stressgard just once a year, typically in June. “I manage to keep Dollar Spot to a point of minimal damage,” Daniel notes. “I use the fungicide Exteris Stressgard when the Dollar Spot kicks off, and then I follow a feeding programme to keep it under control.”
This feeding programme includes a tank mix of Protec® Plus 164-8, Ascoflex plus seaweed, and Elevate FE an alkaline complex iron source. “From late May through to September, I spray this mixture every two weeks, which helps to keep the Dollar Spot at bay,” Daniel explains.
Daniel’s proactive approach ensures he remains prepared for the key period in September, when many clubs hold their finals. “You can only apply Exteris Stressgard twice a year, so I always try to keep an application available for emergencies, especially in September.”
Daniel also recommends the C Complex fine turf Organo-mineral fertiliser, which he applies three times a year. “I use it at the start of the season, in early July to manage
anthracnose—which we haven’t had any issues with this year—and again at the end of the renovation period.”
This holistic approach, combining a structured nutritional programme, managing leaf wetness and soil moisture, a fundamental cultural programme and fungicides, has proven effective across all the clubs he manages, consistently keeping Dollar Spot at bay with minimal damage.
Dollar Spot has presented a recurring issue across all the bowling greens Daniel maintains. However, thanks to the tailored programme developed with OAS, he has successfully controlled the disease across the board. The same strategy that worked at Wallfields Bowls Club has been applied to the other clubs under his management, all of which now benefit from his effective and consistent use of OAS products.
By leveraging innovative products like Exteris Stressgard, Elevate Fe and following a meticulously planned programme, Daniel has cemented his reputation as a go-to contractor for bowling greens and other sports turf. His success story is a testament to the value of expert advice, proactive planning, and the power of industry-leading solutions.
If you would like to speak to OAS about how the team can help you please call 0800 138 7222.
www.originamenity.com
While the challenges of managing the multi-sport surfaces at Cranleigh School may be akin to those faced by most in the education sector, here they’re on a mammoth scale! With 248 acres of sports pitches, grounds and gardens to keep in quality condition year-round, the priorities when it comes to seed selection is reliability, versatility and tolerance for wear and tear. This, according to Deputy Grounds Manager Andy Burke, they’re achieving with mixtures from across the DLF and Johnsons Sports Seed ranges.
Cranleigh is one of Surrey’s leading co-educational independent schools and notes a number of leading public figures and some seriously sporty alumni over its 150+ year history. Its high sporting calibre is perhaps unsurprising given the scope of the surfaces available to pupils which includes 21 winter sports pitches, 8 cricket pitches and a 9-hole golf course. When Andy joined the school 9 and a half years ago, mixtures from the Masterline and Johnsons Sports Seed ranges were already used site-wide, and he goes on to explain why this has continued.
“In our environment, and with the sheer scale of facilities, our scheduling of operations and renovations has to be pretty strict which ultimately means we are often putting seed in the ground when conditions aren’t perhaps optimal. For example, in the Spring of 2022 we carried out extensive overseeding on our
cricket outfields and winter sports pitches using Johnsons J4Turf and PM81 from the Masterline seed range. Then, despite seeing very little rain until the start of September, our grounds team were incredibly impressed that after a dormant period we saw strong growth and incredible drought recovery at the first drop of moisture. The result was quality playing surfaces that looked good and performed evenly.”
Johnsons J 4Turf and J Premier Wicket are used on the cricket outfields and squares, which host upwards of 250 games a year. “The turnaround and level of wear is intensive, but we’ve found this combination of mixtures withstands the high level of play, recovering quickly and coping with climatic conditions – be those dry like last summer or wetter as we’ve had throughout 2024.”
Masterline PM81 is ideally suited to the renovation and repair of winter sports pitches, multi-purpose fields and racecourses.
The cricket outfields are cut down to 16mm until the last game of the season, then will be left to grow to 32mm where they will then play a critical part in a packed rugby programme. “This is where the seed really gets tested as the demands of rugby will push wear tolerance to the limit! We’ve always found the strong bladed and deep rooting DLF and Johnsons mixtures can handle that, before being taken down to 26mm for football.”
Masterline PM81 is ideally suited to the renovation and repair of winter sports pitches, multipurpose fields and racecourses. The 100% perennial ryegrass mix delivers outstanding versatility, sward density and year-round colour. Beside this, J 4turf and J Premier Wicket, Andy and the team are also using Johnsons J Rye Green on their golf greens and Masterline PM51 Greenscape as a general, high-performance mixture for landscaping and hardwearing lawns.
He concludes, “It’s ultimately these mixtures that are the foundation to everything we oversee in our department and that year after year give us the quality and, importantly, the versatility to sustain such a high level of sport.”
Atrio of GKB Machines have been installed at SCHLOSS Roxburghe Championship Golf Course, as part of major ongoing investment into the club and wider estate. After being delivered by dealer Thomas Sherriff & Co in the summer of 2024, the SP100, SPM300 and GKB Combiseeder were put straight to
task by Golf Course Manager Ross Ovens, as he and his team of 13 completed autumn renovations on greens, tees and approaches.
The Roxburghe is nestled in the heart of the Scottish Borders and is consistently ranked within the Top 10 Inland Courses in Scotland. Designed by the internationally renowned golf course architect Dave Thomas, the Par-72 parkland course and wider complex was
sold in 2018 – with the new owners investing heavily in the on-site hotel, spa, lodges and golf course. “The property has changed massively, meaning we needed to invest in our greenkeeping equipment to produce the quality needed” comments Ross.
“In speaking with Dougie Archibald at Thomas Sherriff’s and GKB’s Tom Shinkins we really liked the fact that GKB is a family-owned
Part of the fleet package, and replacing existing topdressers, was an SP100 and SPM300 from the GKB Sandspreader range. “These two machines work hand in hand brilliantly, giving us the versatility to dress greens as well as using the larger machine on the fairways. The SPM300 with material handler we’ve found particularly useful for topping up bunkers or loading material into the SP100 quickly and easily.”
With fewer chemicals available, and a desire to improve our sustainability credentials, it is more important than ever that we have a good overseeding programme in place. “
- we found it gave us better germination. This will be pivotal in our programme moving forwards as we try to introduce better cultivars into our surfaces, making us more resistant to disease and thereby lowering our reliance on chemicals.”
“The trio have recently played a big part in our autumn renovation works. We put down a good application and even distribution of sand, followed by overseeding as we pursue the ongoing improvement of our sward on the high wear areas of the course.”
www.gkbmachines.com business, and this feeds down into the level of care and detail put into their robust range of equipment.”
He continues, “Our SP100 is mounted onto our John Deere Gator, and we have retrofitted this with a GPS system which has dramatically improved the accuracy and efficiency of topdressing operations. It gives us both the spread and quality we are looking for.”
Also delivered was a CS160. “With fewer chemicals available, and a desire to improve our sustainability credentials, it is more important than ever that we have a good overseeding programme in place. We didn’t have a seeder previously, so we demonstrated various models and opted for the GKB Combiseeder because - as a dimple seeder
Ross concludes, “We’ve been delighted with the results we’ve achieved and the support we’ve had from Tom and from Thomas Sherriff’s before, during and after the purchase process.”
Like a lot of turf maintenance activities, topdressing techniques have evolved over the years as thoughts around the benefits of lighter, more frequent dressings have resulted in proven improvements in surface health and playability. Redexim UK explore the ‘why, when and how’ of topdressing to ensure optimum results from every operation.
Why?
The application of sand will bring multiple benefits to a surface. Looking at golf greens in particular, topdressing will modify the soil structure by adding a medium
that will improve the porositymeaning infiltration rates, oxygen movement and nutrient retention within the soil are all increased. A good soil structure is the backbone for many a successful maintenance activity, not least overseeding, where topdressing provides a high-quality medium for new roots to grow. Not only does the dressing introduce new minerals to stimulate growth, the loose particles provide a tilth for the roots and shoots to get a foothold in the early stages of establishment and germination.
It also plays a key role in stabilising a surface, particularly when conducted in conjunction with
aeration programmes. Topdressing following tining or hollow coring can help to speed up recovery and provide a level, truer surface for golfers to play on. This ability to smooth a playing surface means it can also be utilised during the recovery and repair of divots, pitch marks or other damage.
Topdressing should also be employed for the control and prevention of the issues associated with excess levels of organic matter. Along with mechanical intervention in the form of scarification and verti-cutting, topdressing can effectively dilute thatch accumulations to improve the growing environment.
Topdressing is also proving an effective tool in the battle with worm casts, now that the majority of effective chemical controls have been removed. Sand irritates the worm’s skin thereby reducing worm populations, whilst making any casts that do appear drier and easier to disperse.
Topdressing can generally be conducted at any time during the season, where the plant is actively growing and is strong enough to recover from any associated mechanical intervention. A heavier dressing can be applied in the spring when the plant growth should be vigorous, allowing for swift recovery and repair from any damage sustained over the winter. Dressing can then carry on at regular intervals, getting lighter as the season progresses to ensure that, come the autumn, the grass plant is not smothered – leaving it vulnerable to fungal diseases such as Fusarium.
Disease can occur during warmer conditions, due to applications creating a microclimate in the upper profile. Pathogens can quite quickly germinate if the dressing isn’t effectively worked into the
surface so thought should be given to the amount of dressing applied and, for heavier applications, consider brushing after the topdressing is complete to speed up dispersal.
The quality, trueness and type of grass dominant in a green will dictate how frequently turf managers will need to topdress. For example, creeping bentgrass would benefit from light and frequent dressings where greens that are predominately fescue can successfully manage with fewer applications over the course of a season.
There are two main options available when it comes to the choice of dresser – disc dressers (sometimes known as spinner spreaders), or brush spreaders.
For those following the ‘little and often’ approach, the preference will tend to be disc dressing. Disc dressers such as the Rink DS800 offer a range of adjustable parameters to allow for optimum versatility as the season progresses. Spreading width and thickness can be easily adjusted, along with changing the speed of
Along
“
with mechanical intervention in the form of scarification and verticutting, topdressing can effectively dilute thatch accumulations to improve the growing environment.
the spinner to suit the amount of dressing required. The Rink DS800 model for example, can accommodate spreading widths of between 2m and 12m and spreading thicknesses of 0.5 to 15mm, meaning the dressing of a green will be complete in just two or three passes.
Conversely, heavier applications and carpet dressings may be more suited to using a brush dresser. Units such as the Rink 1010, work via a rotating brush on the rear of the unit which will distribute material in one even stripe. Because spread is limited to the width of the dresser, more passes will be required which is not ideal if the surface is already vulnerable.
To optimise efficiency from topdressing, bring the surfaces back into play quicker and to minimise those conditions favourable to disease pathogens, one should consider utilising a brush to work the dressing into the surface. For smaller areas such as greens, the 1.4m wide Redexim Speedbrush features two brushes that rotate against the direction of travel to quickly and effectively sweep the dressed material into the surface. Meanwhile, a wide-area brush such as the 6m Top Brush is well suited to the incorporation of dressing on denser grasses or larger areas such as fairways.
Aweather station at your location can offer several key benefits:
• Site Management - Accurate weather data helps in managing irrigation systems more effectively, ensuring optimal turf health without overwatering.
• Planning Maintenance ActivitiesWeather information can inform scheduling for maintenance tasks like mowing, aeration, and fertilization, which are best done under specific weather conditions.
• Event Planning - Knowing local weather conditions helps in planning tournaments, outings, or events, allowing for better scheduling and communication with players.
• Safety - Real-time weather monitoring can alert staff and golfers to severe weather conditions, helping to ensure safety on the course.
• Pest and Disease ManagementUnderstanding weather patterns can aid in predicting pest outbreaks and managing turf diseases, ultimately improving course health and playability.
• Player Experience - Providing golfers with accurate and timely weather updates enhances their experience and can help them plan their visits.
• Data Collection - Long-term weather data can assist in evaluating the impacts of climate change on the course and guide future decisions regarding turf management and course design.
Standard Sensors include:-
• Rainfall (Rate & Intensity)
• Solar Radiation
• Evapotranspiration – ET (Calculated using combined sensor data)
• Wind Speed & Direction
At GTT UK, consistency is crucial when it comes to grinding, and to get perfection every time the company uses Foley Company grinders.
GTT UK owner Matt Thompsett had extensive experience as a mechanic in greenkeeping workshops before he started his professional turf and arboricultural machinery service and repair business four years ago. Having begun with other
grinders that he felt were timeconsuming to set up, always involved some guesswork, and were never completely accurate, he researched the market and found Foley’s UK distributor, ProSport UK.
From there, he found his perfect solution, which was to combine the Foley 633 Accu-Pro Reel Grinder and 672 Bedknife Grinder. Matt explains: “For me, the main thing is the whole repeatability of the package and knowing that
everything is going to be exactly the same. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on three or seven units they’re all going to match.
“With the 633 reel grinder, you can leave it, and it will work on its own while you’re doing something else. It is perfect for me because my commercial customers need their machines and they need them out working, so they want quick turn arounds, and they often want them back as quickly as you possibly can.
“And that’s the main thing I found with the Foley 633: you quickly get used to it, so it’s fast to set up. You just set it, tell the computer what you want it to do, and it does it. You know when it’s finished because the blue light on the top comes on, and that’s it; I know that’s a perfect grind, and you set it away again.”
Relief grinding has been an important aspect of getting Matt the perfect finish. Although he wasn’t initially familiar with the process, the 633’s automated system made it easy to do, and he has received positive customer feedback since introducing it.
“I’ve been doing a lot of research into the proper specifications of how cylinder mowers work, how they are supposed to be set up, and also what manufacturer’s state, and that’s where I’ve come across relief grinding,” Matt
Customers have commented their units stay on cut longer, and the general sharpness is better. They’re also saying it’s not as tricky on the setup, which I think is more to do with the 633 and 672 grinding everything perfectly straight. “
explains. “You’re taking the cylinder back to exactly how it came out of the factory, and they seem to stay on cut a lot longer, which is one of the main benefits of relief grinding.
“Customers have commented their units stay on cut longer, and the general sharpness is better. They’re also saying it’s not as
tricky on the setup, which I think is more to do with the 633 and 672 grinding everything perfectly straight.”
For Matt, getting that perfectly straight grind on the 672 bedknife grinder comes from being able to set it at his own true zero. From there, it’s simply setting his angles, doing a scratch test and knowing that every blade will come out the same.
The ability to produce uniform, factory-precise grinds has not only accelerated turnaround times but also enhanced customer satisfaction through longer-lasting, sharper cuts. This commitment to excellence and continuous improvement underscores GTT UK’s dedication to providing toptier service to clients, and Foley’s ability to provide the tools to do it.
www.prosportukltd.com
01904 448675 lindum@turf co uk www.turf.co.uk
Introduced to the agriculture market in 2012, ATVTrac has gone on to become one of the most highly regarded tracking products, thanks to the team’s dedicated approach to ATV and Sideby-side and machinery security, with its proven multi-tier technology.
Benefitting from GPS, GSM and RF (radio frequency), ATVTrac was the first to offer such technology in a dedicated device, allowing the team to not only track down stolen ATVs, Quads and UTVs, as well as other farm machinery, but be able to assist in proactive recoveries, where only RF could offer detailed location information. ATVTrac also offers lone worker protection too and has expanded its applications to cover all types of farm machinery.
ATVTrac is pleased to be exhibiting at BTME, stand number 215
www.atvtrac.co.uk
Campey Turf Care Systems’ impact on the world stage, has been recognised by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) with the 2024 Global Star Award.
The Macclesfield-based company received the accolade during the GMCC Excellence Awards at Manchester’s Albert Hall, with its outstanding achievements in innovation and global business growth making it a standout candidate.
As sport has grown globally, so has the demand for high-quality surfaces. Campey has developed with an ethos of solving the challenges turf professionals face in the UK, and by applying that worldwide, they have built a reputation as a leader of innovation.
The GMCC Excellence Awards showcase and celebrate business achievements and re-silience, highlighting businesses, leaders, and teams that have demonstrated success within their industries and communities in Greater Manchester.
Speaking about the recognition, Managing Director Julia Campey said, “Winning the Global Star Award is a testament to our entire team’s hard work and dedication. We are proud to represent the turf industry on the global stage, and this award highlights our commitment to continually delivering exceptional service and driving innovation in the turf care industry.”
Campey’s place as the winner was secured due to its history, progress,
and innovation in the global turf market. Campey Turf Care Systems, established in 1986 by Richard Campey, has provided sports turf professionals with industry-defining machinery for 38 years.
Richard Campey detected an untapped market need. He realised that a specialist suppli-er of highquality, purpose-built equipment could enable turf managers to meet the in-creased demands placed on modern sports turf surfaces.
From FIFA World Cups to Wimbledon, and Salford City FC to Manchester United, there is rarely a tournament or event played on turf that hasn’t been prepared using a Campey machine.
What initially started out as a business offering sports turf maintenance work within the North West of the United Kingdom has now grown to be one of the UK’s leading inde-pendent distributors. Machinery is available from over 70 dealers throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA.
Campey continues to strengthen its international presence by establishing Campey Australia and new dealer networks around the world.
Irrespective of the region, Campey Turf Care Systems is not just about providing industryleading machinery. The company is equally invested in education. It has conducted nu-merous European roadshows and demo days worldwide, offering countryspecific train-ing to esteemed professionals and volunteers, thereby consistently elevating the stand-ard of play.
Campey’s innovative machinery, combined with education and customer service, is what has led to the exponential and continued growth of a family business from Macclesfield, which is now the number one supplier and manufacturer of specialised sports turf equip-ment in the world.
” www.campeyturfcare.com
Construction, Renovation, Top Dressing
Drainage, Aeration, Verti-drain
Pitch Power Maintenance
If you want top turf this year, a combined programme of TONIVIT and DOUBLE EDGE will give you both the establishment and the recovery you need for resilient grass throughout the season.
Kickstarting growth with TONIVIT
TONIVIT is a great activator of root growth and root activity. It speeds up establishment of grass and boosts tillering by activating the plant’s nutritional pathway to increase nutrient uptake from the soil.
How to use
Apply as little as 1 L/ha from emergence, every 10-14 days.
Boost your recovery with DOUBLE EDGE
A natural biostimulant, TONIVIT contains the active ingredient GoActiv, extracted from the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum, along with added phosphorus (P 5.7%) and potassium (K 4.2%) further support root development. It’s also OF&G Organic Certified.
DOUBLE EDGE is another natural growth stimulant, and like TONIVIT, it contains the active ingredient GoActiv, with added P (0.8%) and K (1%) but also combines that with nitrogen (2%) and a complex of 18 vegetable amino acids.
This unique formula boosts protein synthesis and aids in stress recovery. By giving your turf access to ready-built amino acids, your grass can build protein and recover quickly.
By improving nutrient and water uptake from the soil, and encouraging both protein production and photosynthesis, Double Edge helps your turf overcome the stress of the season, toughening up and ensuring it looks its best.
How to use
Apply 1L/ha from the start of spring and then every 10-14 days.
The perfect combination
Both TONIVIT and DOUBLE EDGE are tank mixable with a wide range of fungicides, insecticides, plant growth regulators, and fertilisers. Tank mixing with herbicides is not recommended.“
Biodegradable bags and liners enabling the hand placement of concrete, suitable for applications such as scour protection, void filling, underpinning, culvert headwalls, retaining walls or protection of riverbanks and bridges.
The real savings are not in material costs, but in the time saved in having a ready-toinstall product, and not having to dewater the watercourse to place the bagwork.
SoluForm MSE Bagwork is supplied pre-filled with a high quality sand rich topsoil supplied in a form that is ready to use and assemble on site once it arrives.
It aims to establish and promote vegetation growth on, and inside the bagwork, giving the bagwork structure an improved appearance.
ur customer Geddes Group needed a solution for a project on behalf of Angus council, to bring much needed structural support to a bridge at the Barry burn crossing.
The existing Bridge at the Barry burn had been closed to foot traffic for a few years, due to scour problems around the base of the foundation and structural support.
Tidal waters around the bridge along with rough winters and flowing sand in the water, had eaten away at the structural support to the bridge and the adjacent sea wall, which had started to bow forward.
Attempts had been made to minimise the erosion, but as the bordering golf course was the home of the Senior golf open in July 2024, changes had to be made to bring more support and prevent further erosion, before the heavy foot fall of TV crews, camera equipment, cranes, and spectators hit.
The installation site having tidal water meant there was an issue with digging and placement of the foundation, as the estuary could rise and fall by over 5 metres, twice a day. Due to the flowing sand it was very difficult to put a cofferdam in to dewater the area, so a solution was needed that could be installed in those conditions, whilst also ensuring there was no contamination to the water ways that would impact on the landscape and wildlife in the area.
What was the solution?
SoluForm’s above and below water 32N bagwork with their water soluble and biodegradable liners offered the perfect solution to rebuild structure, whilst competing with the tidal waters.
Our bags only weigh 20kg each, so they can be handled by a single person, and easily carried down the bank at the installation site.
Our stainless steel pins, that we have specifically designed to use in salt water applications, also brought further structure to the installation providing a much needed scour protection solution to the new bridge.
What was the outcome for the client?
Together with the contractor and council we were able to provide guidance, so that full plans were made before the installation was started to ensure the new bridge and structural supports could be installed with ease and precision.
All the blocks to the sea wall were removed and numbered so they could be cleaned and stored on site. Our underwater bagwork was then used to create new pad foundations and structural formwork, creating further stability for a dry mix cement to be poured raising the foundation
Our bags only weigh 20kg each, so they can be handled by a single person, and easily carried down the bank at the installation site.
for the sea wall before the blocks were replaced.
The work could be carried out with the raising water levels, and both bagwork types ensure no cement fines were released into the water.
Would you like to speak to SoluForm to see how we can help?
You can contact us by calling the team on 01629 541066, emailing sales@soluform.co.uk or completing our contact us form on our website. Our friendly team will be more than happy to help you find a solution that meets your needs.
Since becoming Course Manager at Kibworth Golf Club in 2019 Martin Anderson has propelled the course to new heights. A crucial component in Martin’s arsenal?
The superior quality sand products from Mansfield Sand Company, renowned for their performance and reliability.
For over 170 years, Mansfield Sand Company has led the industry in the development and production of premium silica sand-based products. With a commitment to innovation and quality, Mansfield Sand’s range of offerings has become synonymous with excellence across sports, landscaping, and equestrian sectors. From championship golf courses to world-class show jumping arenas, Mansfield Sand’s products have impressed at some of the most prestigious venues in the UK and Europe.
Reflecting on the transition to Mansfield Sand’s products, Martin speaks of the noticeable difference it has made at Kibworth Golf Club in Leicestershire.
“We have changed our sand provider recently,” he explains.
“The Mansfield Sand product is a cleaner mixture, which is evident in the soil testing results. It has the potential to significantly improve our playing surfaces.”
Regular top-ups throughout the year, coupled with meticulous maintenance during the preseason, ensure that our bunkers are always in pristine condition.
Martin’s journey at Kibworth Golf Club is not merely that of a Course Manager, but of a dedicated individual whose roots run deep within the club’s history. “This club holds a special place in my heart,” Martin reflects. “It’s where I took my first ever steps, became an apprentice, learned the ropes of greenkeeping, and is the place where I met my wife.” This profound connection fuels Martin’s passion for excellence, driving him to continually enhance the club’s playing surfaces with the help of trusted partners like Mansfield Sand Company.
At Kibworth, the application of Mansfield Sand’s top dressing for greens, tees, and approaches has delivered remarkable results. Martin emphasises the role of top dressing in enhancing speed, trueness, and roll through the greens. “It’s not just about aesthetics,” Martin notes. “The top dressing has massively
improved playability and drainage, particularly on our heavy clay soil.”
Martin’s praise extends to Mansfield Sand’s bunker sand, essential for maintaining Kibworth’s 52 bunkers. “Our bunkers are well-placed from a playing point of view,” he explains. “Regular top-ups throughout the year, coupled with meticulous maintenance during the preseason, ensure that our bunkers are always in pristine condition.”
Martin’s successful use of Mansfield Sand products at Kibworth Golf Club is a testament to the power of quality products in course maintenance. As Kibworth continues to thrive under his leadership, it’s clear that the right sand makes all the difference in achieving excellence.
For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk
Campey Turf Care Systems is excited to announce the CAMPEY™ Electric Sarel Roller, an innovative tool for efficient, ecoconscious aeration of sports turf, tailored especially for bowling greens and cricket squares.
The CAMPEY™ Electric Sarel Roller is a robust, 60 cm-wide aerating roller designed to improve soil health and optimise grass growth on areas up to 3,000 m². Using 70 sharp, durable spikes, the roller precisely penetrates the soil 223 times per square meter, increasing air circulation and water
absorption. This essential process reduces soil com-paction, which is often a concern on heavily used sports grounds and promotes deeper, healthier root growth for strong and resilient turf.
What sets the CAMPEY™ Electric Sarel Roller apart is its commitment to sustainability. The roller is powered by a highcapacity battery, allowing for long, continuous operation with zero emissions. This eco-friendly feature is paired with silent running, making it an ideal choice for noise-sensitive locations such as sports clubs and public parks, where traditional machinery may cause disruptions.
Durability and ease of use are also key benefits. The roller’s design includes a transport roller, which securely shields the spikes while moving the unit, preventing damage and extending its operational life. This makes the CAMPEY™ Electric Sarel Roller a long-lasting and dependable addition to any sports turf maintenance regime.
Using the CAMPEY™ Electric Sarel Roller, turf managers can now achieve outstanding soil aeration and root health with minimal environmental impact. For more information, contact your local Campey product specialist or dealer.
www.campeyturfcare.com
It’s an exciting and busy time for the team at Cabot Highlands, as work is well underway on the construction of a second 18-hole course to complement the renowned and outstandingly picturesque Castle Stuart Golf Links. Investment from the new ownership has also extended to the electrification of the club’s mower fleet, with eight FL22 pedestrian mowers from INFINICUT® handling the undulating greens to deliver a best-in-class cut.
Tasked with the construction of Old Petty – set to open fully in 2026 – is Course Manager James Hutchison, who is assisted by a team of 16 on the daily maintenance of the Castle Stuart course. “We were keen to explore electric options so had demonstrations of the INFINICUT® along with other electric hand mowers” James explains. “There were a few things that the team and
I liked about the INFINICUT® - it felt lighter and followed the contours of our greens to deliver a really consistent cut. The range of the INFINICUT® battery was also far better. It ticked a lot of boxes.”
Following the successful demonstration, the club purchased eight FL22 mowers from the INFINICUT® golf range, which were installed by local dealers Fairways GM. “The support from Fairways GM is fantastic and this goes a long way when you’re running a pay and play – we need the peace of mind that back-up is swift and professional should we ever need to call on it.” He adds, “We’ve also developed a great relationship with Alan Jack at INFINICUT® which, together with the performance of the machines, is another reason we’ll be adding more units to our fleet in the not-toodistant future.”
The INFINICUT® FL22 offers industry-leading cut quality,
contour-following ability and unbeatable precision for the preparation of fine turf surfaces. James and the team are using the mowers on the greens and tees daily throughout the summer, and when conditions demand during the cooler months. “We like to keep the height of cut relatively high year-round to reduce stress of the turf. The finesse and cleanliness of cut and finish delivered by the INFINICUT® allows us to do that without detriment to pace or presentation.”
“We host a number of amateur events throughout the year which the mower fleet are imperative to in terms of preparations. Moving forwards, we’ll be adding more INFINICUT®’s to our fleet as we prepare to open the new course and potentially welcome more, bigger and even better events into our calendar.”
For more information visit: www.infinicut.co.uk
Iseki UK & Ireland welcomed over 120 attendees from across the UK, Ireland and Europe to their 2024 Dealer Conference for a combination of outdoor training, seminars and product announcements.
Sixty dealers representing the UK, Ireland and Iceland were joined by the Managing Director of Iseki Europe, Mr Ota, and Mr Suzuki from Iseki Japan at the renowned Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club for the one-day conference.
The event provided a dynamic platform for dealers to engage in hands-on and practical demonstrations of Iseki’s latest machinery, giving attendees the opportunity to see the equipment in action and understand its capabilities in real-world applications.
On either side of the practical demonstrations, attendees also participated in a series of informative seminars led by Iseki’s technical and commercial experts. These sessions covered key industry trends, new product developments, and effective strategies for maximising dealer success in an increasingly competitive market.
Speaking about the success of the conference, David Withers, Managing Director of Iseki UK and Ireland, said: “We are thrilled with the level of engagement and enthusiasm from our dealers at this year’s conference. The demonstrations and seminars have hopefully empowered our dealers with the tools and knowledge they need to better serve their customers and win against our competitors
“The Forest of Arden have been fantastic hosts, and particularly their Garden and Estates Manager, Rob Rowson, who provided us with a suitable area to demonstrate all of the machinery which really ensured the day was a success.”
A key moment of the conference was the introduction of Iseki’s new PartSmart spare parts system, which was brought in as part of the company’s commitment to ensuring dealer success. The new system promises to streamline ordering processes, reduce downtime, and improve overall customer service across the dealer network. Attendees received an indepth walkthrough of the system’s
capabilities, showcasing its userfriendly interface and enhanced inventory management features.
In addition to the practical elements of the day, dealers were also given time to network throughout lunch and an excellent evening drinks reception and meal.
The Iseki UK and Ireland 2024 Dealer Conference marks a continued commitment to innovation, dealer support, and excellence in service, further strengthening the company’s presence in the UK, Ireland, and Europe.
www.iseki.co.uk
The ISEKI SF range of powerful 22.5-49hp diesel engine mowers enable you to mow your grass whatever the weather keeping the same pristine finish everytime. With a variety of rotary or Muthing flail decks to choose from, the ISEKI SF range really is the ultimate mowing machine.
Available as cut and drop with a useful toolbox on the back, or cut and collect, with a turbine driven collection system direct from the deck to the large hopper, available up to 1300L. Designed and manufactured in Japan for quality that’s built to last.
Contact your local dealer to book a demo on your premises today!
As sustainability gains importance for golf courses and large turf areas, greenkeepers are increasingly looking for efficient and costeffective methods to lower their carbon footprints. Kress RTKn robotic mowers integrate advanced technology with zero emissions, offering a solution for environmentally conscious turf care.
Kress RTKn mowers provide precision and performance in turf maintenance. These machines operate quietly and without emissions, providing an alternative to traditional petrol-powered mowers. According to estimates, an 18-hole golf course could potentially reduce its carbon emissions by up to 10 tons annually by transitioning to Kress RTKn robotic mowers, contributing to environmental sustainability efforts.
Maintaining a well-kept golf course or turf surface presents challenges, especially under time constraints and varying weather conditions. Kress RTKn mowers are designed to perform efficiently in wet weather, ensuring consistent cutting during periods of increased grass growth.
Kress RTKn mowers feature near-silent operation, allowing greenkeepers to schedule mowing at any time without causing disruption to nearby residents, hotel guests, or players. The use of robotic mowers may also reduce certain safety risks, such as staff exposure to potential hazards.
Kress RTKn robotic mowers integrate advanced technology with zero emissions, offering a solution for environmentally conscious turf care.
In addition to mowing, Kress RTKn robotic mowers contribute to overall turf health. By operating early in the day, even when dew is present, they may help mitigate issues like soil compaction and the effects of worm casts and mole activity. Consistent, gentle mowing can encourage healthier grass growth, promoting resilient turf.
Investing in Kress RTKn robotic mowers offers potential longterm benefits. Their technology and efficiency may provide operational savings over time, while supporting sustainability
goals. For greenkeepers prioritising environmental impact and turf health, these mowers could represent a sensible investment in the future of sustainable landscaping.
For more information, visit the Kress website: kress.com/en-gb/ rtkn-without-boundary-wire
The Kress RTKn robot mowers revolutionise grounds maintenance by covering larger areas with precision. Operating autonomously in parallel lines, they efficiently move from area to another. Their sleek design and no need for on-site aerials ensures the aesthetics of the grounds are preserved, and with zero emissions, Kress mowers are the best choice for sustainable groundskeeping.
Speak to your local grounds maintenance machinery dealer today to learn more.
One week before an important home game, SV Karlskron faces a familiar problem: heavy rain has flooded the field. For chairman Sebastian Pletz, this would normally mean canceling training and possibly the match itself.
“Even if the water clears, marking lines in time is always a challenge— but we have a solution now,” says Sebastian.
About eight months ago, SV Karlskron invested in a TinyMobileRobots line marking robot. They had tested others, but none impressed them like this one.
TinyMobileRobots has revolutionized autonomous line marking by addressing two common industry challenges: interference from trees and pitch patterns.
Traditional RTK-network-based robots struggle with maintaining connectivity around dense trees or nearby walls, resulting in wobbly lines. TinyMobileRobots’ Tree Filter add-on solves this by filtering out environmental disturbances.
Stadium-grade patterns, while aesthetically pleasing, create shadows that can distort line accuracy, a problem known as ‘napping.’ TinyMobileRobots’ updated Anti-Napping Software detects and adjusts for these patterns, ensuring perfectly straight lines every time.
Reliability is crucial for any technology, especially when it comes to autonomous machines.
TinyMobileRobots has tackled two of the most common issues: satellite connectivity and difficult pitch conditions. By upgrading the antenna and modem, they’ve reduced connectivity issues, ensuring more stable performance. Additionally, their fluid-drive system prevents the cast-wheel from getting stuck in muddy pitches, making the robot far more reliable in tough conditions.
These innovations have been game-changers for clubs like SV Karlskron. With less than 24 hours to go the flooding has stopped,
but the grass is high and wet, and there are no lines on the field. A potential disaster is right in front of Sebastian. Luckily the sun is out and dries the fields.
He mows the fields and in a couple of hours all the high grass disappears. However, he doesn’t have any more time left for today. But for Sebastian, that’s no longer a concern.
‘We’ll wait until tomorrow to mark the field. It only takes 30 minutes with our robot, so it’s one less worry,’ he explains.
www.tinymobilerobots.com
Scan to see it in action
Effortless:
One person, a tablet, and some paint - the robot does the rest.
Whether you're a small club or a major council, our robot adapts to your needs.
Reliable:
You’ll never have to worry about line marking again
www.tinymobilerobots.com
The combination of Suståne 5-2-4 and 5-210+Fe is providing the perfect platform for a switch to finer grass species at Ely City Golf Club. Looking to improve disease resistance from the ground up is Course Manager Alan Magee, who explains how the tried and tested programme from Suståne is the ideal base feed for encouraging bent grass to flourish on the greens at the parkland club.
Ely City is regarded as one of the finest courses in East Anglia, located on the outskirts of Cambridge and delivering a challenging but picturesque 18-holes of mature parkland. Assisted by a team of five, Alan has been at the club for the last two and a half years. “With the ongoing reduction in chemicals and the drive towards more sustainable practices, as greenkeepers, we’re having to tackle the issue of disease management in new ways – for me, that’s looking at how we can increase our tolerance with better, more resilient, grass species” he explains.
No stranger to Suståne, Alan has been a longstanding user of their 5-2-4 all natural slow-release nitrogen fertiliser at his previous club in Dorset. “The 5-2-4 is really the building block for the rest of our inputs. We apply this at eight-week intervals from the spring onwards, with complimentary liquid feeds put down as and when required.”
The original Suståne formula, 5-2-4 promotes enhanced disease
suppression and quick green up, without excessive growth. Suitable for most turfgrass environments, Suståne 5-2-4 increases the soils’ ability to hold water and nutrients, improving suppression of plant pathogens and strengthening the plant’s tolerance again heat, drought and other environmental stress factors. “This product is a fantastic spring starter, getting us moving and providing all the nutrients we need to support bentgrass and strengthen our greens ahead of a busy playing season.”
“For some extra oomph, we use the 5-2-10+Fe every eight weeks from July onwards as we begin to prepare the surfaces for winter” Alan adds. With its 1:2 N to K ratio, Suståne 5-2-10+Fe aids plant hydration and disease suppression, also enhancing chlorophyll production for outstanding turf colour without excessive top growth.
“This combination gives us great consistency and the versatility to adapt to surface requirements depending on the weather.” He continues, “As we pursue a bigger bent population in our greens, I’m a firm believer that if we get the biology right in the soil, the rest of our programme will fall into place. Both the surfaces and the players will hopefully be thanking us as a result!”
Following the launch of Maxtima fungicide, which provides turf-safe broad-spectrum disease control of microdochium patch and dollar spot, Nigel Green, Course Manager at Aberdovey Golf Club set within the Snowdonia National Park, has reported fantastic results incorporating it into his programme to control dollar spot this summer.
Founded in 1892, Aberdovey is one of the oldest golf courses in Wales and the home of the Welsh Golfing Union. It regularly features in the Top 100 golf courses in the UK and Ireland and was recently ranked as the 3rd best course in Wales by National Club Golfer.
“At Aberdovey Golf Club, maintaining the health and playability of our greens is always a top priority, so when signs of Dollar Spot began appearing on the greens and aprons, I knew immediate action was needed. That’s when Maxtima came into play, and I have to say, it has truly delivered,” says Nigel.
“I first used Maxtima when I was given some to trial by BASF. I closely monitored the timing, weather conditions, and every detail of the application process. I applied it at a rate of 1.5 litres per hectare, and within just three to four days, I started noticing the results. The Dollar Spot, which had been a growing concern, was effectively stopped in its tracks. The product’s rapid action and efficacy were evident almost immediately, which was incredibly reassuring.
Maxtima is absorbed into the leaf really effectively even at low temperatures and continues to work for a long time after application. “
The mild and dewy mornings we’ve experienced recently have certainly not been ideal for managing turf disease, yet even under these challenging conditions, Maxtima has proven its worth. After seeing the quick impact on the initial areas, I decided to extend the application to two additional greens. The results were so impressive that I ultimately treated all of our greens, and I’m pleased to report that Maxtima has successfully stemmed the Dollar Spot across the board.
Maxtima is absorbed into the leaf really effectively even at
low temperatures and continues to work for a long time after application. This means that in addition to its use against dollar spot in the summer months, it should be a really effective addition to the tools we use to control microdochium patch.
Given its performance, Maxtima is now a staple in our turf management arsenal. I’ll be applying it as needed, and I’ll always make sure to have some in stock to ensure we’re ready to tackle any future outbreaks. The peace of mind that comes from knowing we have a reliable, fast-acting solution like Maxtima on hand is invaluable. I would highly recommend it to any course manager looking for an effective and trustworthy product to keep their greens in top condition.”
For more information on Maxtima visit agrovista.co.uk/maxtima or contact your local amenity specialist.
Richard Allen explains how his lake edging solution is reducing costs and creating beautiful and safe water margins, with distinct green credentials.
“Most of our customers are looking for solutions that reduce their maintenance costs,” comments Richard, founder of EcoBunker and inventor of AquaEdge. “What surprises them, is how natural the finished product is. We have a sustainable, environmentally friendly solution that enhances the aesthetic of the water feature and ultimately provides a stable and safe clean edge. It is also possible to include features that could provide natural habitats that attracts wildlife.”
Richard founded EcoBunker, the market leader in golf course bunker solutions, 10 years ago. His team of inventors, engineers and greenkeepers have designed, advised and supplied solutions to some of the best known golf courses on the planet. Richard, a civil engineer by profession, has continued to invent new products that provide sustainable, low maintenance solutions for groundskeepers around the world including the AquaEdge.
“The interface where water meets turf is a real maintenance headache,
Anyone responsible for maintaining water features on golf courses, or in parks or gardens, will understand the challenges of maintaining a clean, safe water margin.
which regularly turns into a messy, unattractive and unsafe slippery zone. Our solution is to stack layers of 100% recycled artificial grass tiles to form a synthetic, low maintenance, natural looking ‘buffer’ between sand and grass,” explains Richard. “Installation involves minimal disruption and is much faster than traditional retaining solutions. The finished product is stable and strong and because it is synthetic is doesn’t need any significant maintenance meaning you can spend time and money elsewhere.”
Anyone responsible for maintaining water features on golf courses, or in parks or gardens, will understand the challenges of maintaining a clean, safe water margin. The AquaEdge dramatically decreases maintenance costs, is provides a more natural aesthetic by comparison with traditional alternatives such as gabions or piling and thanks to a faster and lighter construction process, minimises risk and disruption making it the perfect solution for groundskeepers across a number of industries.
To find out more about this market leading product Groundskeeping readers are being offered a free one-hour consultation with one of EcoBunker’s qualified engineers. They will review your situation and advise you on the best solution for your lake or groundskeeping challenge. Simply email aquaedge@ecobunker.co.uk quoting Groundskeeping to book your free appointment.
www.ecobunker.co.uk
Royal Cromer Golf Club, ranked in England’s Top 100, has doubled down on its commitment to sustainability with the help of Toro and Reesink Turfcare, expanding its fleet with three new Toro eTriFlex 3370 electric mowers and an upgraded Toro irrigation system.
Under the leadership of Course Manager Mark Heveran, who joined the club in 2010, Royal Cromer in Norfolk has already made impressive strides in terms of sustainability, working in collaboration with the R&A’s sustainable agronomy team, and reducing herbicide, pesticide,
fungicide, and water use across its maritime, clifftop course.
Additionally, Royal Cromer has cut nitrogen inputs by over two-thirds and transformed the botanical composition of its turf, favouring bents and fescues for their improved resistance to drought, disease, erosion, and compaction.
As Mark explains, the next step on Royal Cromer’s green mission had to be investing in three new powerful Toro eTriFlex 3370 all-electric mowers, supplied by Reesink: “Being a Top 100 English club, we have more eyes on us than ever, so there’s never been a
better time to upgrade our existing fleet.
“Two of the mowers are eightbladed and set up for tees and surrounds, while the other is eleven-bladed and perfect for greens,” he continues. “And the benefit with this setup is that they’re fully interchangeable.
“We can easily swap the different units from one machine to another, giving us real versatility on the course. Each eTriFlex 3370 comes fully loaded with grooming brushes, which allow us to tiller the turf, removing any debris and preparing the grass leaf for the
perfect cut. These mowers have been excellent so far, and the advancement in quality of cut is truly phenomenal.”
Given the course’s challenging clifftop terrain, safety is a key consideration for Royal Cromer, and one Mark takes seriously. “All our new Toro mowers are equipped with three-wheel drive kits,” he reveals. “For our coastal course, with its ranging undulations, these are perfect; the machines stick to the ground, so there are no sliding issues – which gives me peace of mind.”
In addition to the mowers, Royal Cromer has upgraded its existing Toro irrigation system. As part of the club’s mission to improve its biodiversity, Mark and the team
“
For the last 10 years, it has helped us reduce our water outputs significantly, monitoring and delivering our irrigation, right down to the millimetre.
are replacing artificial walkways with new natural alternatives, which will, of course, require irrigation.
“Although we’ve added more sprinkler heads, we’re using the most up-to-date Lynx software from Toro to monitor and optimise our water usage,” explains Mark. “For the last 10 years, it has helped
us reduce our water outputs significantly, monitoring and delivering our irrigation, right down to the millimetre.”
Indeed, Royal Cromer’s commitment to sustainability is part of a broader vision for the club’s promising future. “We’re setting up Royal Cromer for hundreds of years to come,” says Mark. “I see myself and my dedicated team as the custodians of this golf course, following in the footsteps of greats like Old Tom Morris, who played an important role in designing our course. And our goal is to take people on a journey, through a historic coastal golf course, while ensuring we operate as sustainably as possible.”
Sittingbourne & Milton Regis Golf Club surprised their Head greenkeeper Paul Best in December last year, when he was called down to the maintenance facility on a fictious errand, only to find that he was the recipient of a brand new Ventrac all-terrain compact tractor and several attachments.
Although the Ventrac was on his wish-list, machinery procurement at the club normally takes place in the summer, so it was huge surprise when he saw the machine complete with Contour deck, Tough Cut deck and Turbine blower.
The surprise was organised by Steve Bootes, the club’s General Manager, who has a great relationship with Paul and the greenkeeping team.
“We’d already sat down together”, said Steve, “and drawn up the spec and rational for the purchase. We knew we wanted a machine that provided versatility and could work in wet weather. The Ventrac was the obvious choice. The board here
were happy to provide the finance to pull the purchase forward from our usual summer machinery upgrading programme, so I went ahead with the order and ‘forgot’ to tell Paul or any of his team. The look on his face when he saw the machine was priceless, the expletives he uttered on video, not so!”
Steve and Paul have worked together in their current roles for almost seven years and have a close working relationship. Paul joined the club as a 17-year-old apprentice and has risen through the ranks over the intervening 25 years. He was assistant head greenkeeper in his early 20s and then shadowed former head greenkeeper David Horn for six months prior to his retirement. However, the step up to head greenkeeper was not a forgone conclusion and he beat 19 other applicants for the top job.
Commenting on the Ventrac, Paul said,
“To say I was gobsmacked when I saw the Ventrac is an understatement; it was a massive surprise; a brilliant Christmas present, not just for me, but the whole team!
“It was a really wet season, but we managed to persuade the board that this was the piece of kit we needed going into the winter to enhance the playing surfaces and visual appearance. Usually we’d leave the fairways, as they were too wet to cut, but we striped them up all through the winter. We just
missed what we call the ‘leaf season’, but this year with the leaf blower it’s going to pay dividends. Our current blower is towed behind a utility vehicle, which means that we’re using double the amount of fuel; one to power the blower and the other in the tow vehicle. The Ventrac is a single unit, so we’re saving fuel and it can go out without marking the fairways.
“The Tough Cut is brilliant in the deep rough and woodland margins; it takes down brambles and saplings with ease, knocks them down and
mulches them. During the main season we use the Contour deck on our tee banks, but during the winter it’s also used on tees, fairways and even approaches.”
General Manager Steve Bootes was previously a senior electrical technician, who spent over 25 years working in the local paper mill, with an added responsibility for training a large group of apprentices. When the paper mill closed, he spent 10 years with a local engineering company, providing electrical drives for the water industry.
There’s a lot of respect for Paul and his team and that’s because of the training they’ve had, the leadership they’ve got and the equipment that enables them to do their job. “
A keen golfer, he was a committee member for 15 years and club captain in 2005-6. Following the departure of two General Managers in quick succession, he took on the role for an initial 6-month trial period, and has successfully been in the role since 2017.
He concluded by saying, “There’s a very good atmosphere at this club, across all departments. There’s a lot of respect for Paul and his team and that’s because of the training they’ve had, the leadership they’ve got and the equipment that enables them to do their job.
“The Ventrac is an integral part of our course maintenance plan and I’m now being pressured by Paul for a second machine. It’s not a forgone conclusion that he’ll get one, but we’ll make a good business case going forward and see what the board says.
“From my perspective, it’s not just putting faith in a machine; we must have support to ensure that it performs to its maximum and that’s where Price Turfcare, the Ventrac distributor, have been exemplary. As long as Paul puts in a parts order before 12 noon, he gets the item the next day. That’s the type of partner we want at this club.”
The year 2022 was the hottest on record in the UK and experts are warning the unprecedented heat is a sign of things to come. With the ground dried out and continued heavy footfall, amenity areas, sports fields, golf courses, parks, other treelined spaces, and even domestic back gardens suffer heavy soil compaction. When the rains come, water cannot penetrate the soil, and sports grounds in particular turn into quagmires, stopping play and resulting for many in lost revenue. Exceptionally heavy rainfall leading to flooding has a number of other knock-on effects for turf and trees. Flood waters are heavy enough to force the oxygen out of the soil structure, leading to dead or dying turf and trees showing signs of severe stress, leaf fall and rotting roots. No amount of normal aeration, spiking, or decompaction of the topsoil is going to solve a problem that goes much deeper. That is where deep aeration specialists are called for and one company, Terrain Aeration, has been solving these problems for well over thirty years.
Take some typical examples. A bowling green in Wales that has seen over ninety years of play. Built on shale, like so many, even with regular Vertidraining, the ground
had become compacted at depth. The club treasurer remembers well the day in 2018.
“The green was filling with water before my very eyes,” he says, “and after the heavy showers, it remained quite sodden and unplayable. It seemed no amount of work could get it back into shape.” This left fifty or so members without playing facilities until it dried out. One contractor working with London councils has among the sites under their watchful eye many of the city’s sports pitches, of which there are ninety-five football pitches, ten cricket squares, bowling greens and running tracks.
“A lot of the sites are on madeup ground and experience major problems with drainage,” says their parks officer. “We have carried out aeration down to 300mm, but it’s not enough to get to the pans.”
So, what’s the answer? Terrain Aeration has a range of machines with the ability to send a probe to a depth of one metre. It penetrates the ground with the help of its built-in JCB road breaker, reaching the pan. Here it injects compressed air, working on a grid system and
fragmenting the ground into fissures. These interlink to help restructure the soil and let in vital oxygen. Turf roots will grow stronger and uniquely the soil structure is kept open by Terrain Aeration’s Terralift machine process. With the Terralift’s probe reaching 1m depth, it’s also the perfect way to help move excess water away from stagnating around tree roots. By going deeper than the growing roots, excess water can percolate away and save the roots from rotting. Again, vital oxygen is injected into the soil along with other products to help the root system re-establish itself. The results are a healthier and stronger root growth, a visibly stronger canopy and even more fruit on the trees. Diseases such as Phytophthora (waterborne problems for Yew trees) can be stopped as opening the soil structure and injecting oxygen back into the soil is beneficial to the health of the tree. In the above examples, Terrain Aeration’s system has come to the rescue after the flood for sports grounds, golf courses, racecourses, parks and even new-build gardens for major housebuilders’ developments.
Terrain Aeration www.terrainaeration.co.uk
COMPACTION AND WATERLOGGING STOP PLAY. DOWNTIME COSTS MONEY.
Terrain Aeration’s long-term treatment reaches one metre deep where compressed air blasts the compaction.
The soil is opened up for good drainage and a healthy sward with minimum disruption. We have been successfully deep aerating sports turf, bowling greens, golf courses, parks, racecourses, trees and gardens for over thirty years.
The picturesque island of Jersey is known for many things, but perhaps lesser publicised is the fact that its climate provides the perfect growing conditions for moss! In the battle to ensure moss and weeds doesn’t detract from many of the island’s popular public and sporting attractions are contractors Pitch and Track, who can now take on the challenge chemical-free thanks to their purchase of a Foamstream L12 system from Weedingtech.
Owned and operated by father and son pairing Nigel and Harrison McLinton, Pitch and Track conduct maintenance and repairs for natural and artificial playing surfaces, alongside effective weed and moss control, for a number of tennis courts, football facilities and private and public schools throughout Jersey. “Like a lot of contractors, we were previously using various chemicals to treat unwanted vegetation which meant ensuring we had the correct licenses and PPE to spray it, and also restricted us as to when and where we could treat areas – particularly in schools and areas around children, animals and waterways” explains Harrison.
“We stumbled across a demonstration video of Foamstream and were immediately intrigued by what this could offer.” Following a phone call, Weedingtech’s Tom Hamilton organised for a demonstration unit to be shipped to the pair for trial, who were seriously impressed from the off! “We had the L12 for a couple of weeks, used it on a few of our regular tennis court sites to
“
Weedingtech’s L12 delivery unit is a portable, compact machine offering a ‘plug and play’ solution for use in all environments.
see how easy it was to use, how we could manoeuvre it and ultimately how effective it was. The machine and the process delivered on every front which cemented our decision to purchase a unit for delivery in spring 2024.”
Foamstream provides control comparable to that of glyphosate on a broad range of weed species, together with the effective treatment of moss and algae. The plant-based foam solution insulates the hot water, to retain the temperature and quickly kill the weeds, the roots and surrounding spores – offering both immediate and longer-lasting control.
Weedingtech’s L12 delivery unit is a portable, compact machine offering a ‘plug and play’ solution for use in all environments.
“Where previously we relied on the right weather and temperature to spray, we can now effectively treat surfaces anytime with Foamstream. We’ve done close to forty tennis courts to date, and are continually impressed with the speed of results and the more effective clean we get by following Foamstream with a pass of our deep clean machine. We’re also in discussions with authorities regarding treatments on some of the island’s slipways and outdoor pools.”
”We were also delighted to be approached by Jersey Zoo to treat areas in and around the aviary and some of the enclosures.” Harrison adds, “Foamstream has definitely opened new doors for us already and we’re both excited about other opportunities and the future of our business with this machine.”
The Eco Clipper mowing system is specifically designed for maintaining large turf areas, offering innovative technology that delivers a consistent, high-quality cut. Whether the grass is dry or damp, Eco Clipper’s fast-spinning blades and smooth deck ensure efficient grass lifting and even distribution, with no clumps left behind.
For sports field managers and landscapers, this means flexible mowing schedules, even under challenging conditions. The system follows ground contours closely, minimizing soil compaction and promoting healthier root growth. Its quiet, energy-efficient electric drive also makes Eco Clipper ideal for noise-sensitive areas.
With models like the RM343, FM343, and FM4 Sport, Eco Clipper provides tailored solutions that improve mowing quality, increase efficiency, and reduce maintenance costs, ensuring sustainable and cost-effective turf management.
www.ecoclipper.com
Since 1990, Groundsman Industries have developed their unique range of grass maintenance machines and accessories for maximum performance and durability from their factory base in Co. Antrim N. Ireland. Two and Fourwheel drive Turf Cutters deliver effortless sod cutting with low operating vibration levels. These versatile machines can be fitted with sod blades 30cm to 60cm wide to cut 1cm to 7cm thick sod plus Revetting blades to cut Multiple Strips for sod-walling or bunker building. A Guillotine attachment is available to measure and chop the sod into lengths for easy handing or relaying. Trench, De-compaction and Moledraining blades can cut down to 12cm deep. Groundsman Aerators are available from 60cm to 180cm working widths. All use Groundsman’s proven durable Elliptical Plunge Action mechanism for aeration down to 15cm. Quick-change Tines for Solid Spiking, Hollow Coring and Chisel Slitting are available for plus Cluster Tines for dense pattern needle and micro hollow aeration, thatch removal and over-seeding. The incredibly efficient Flexblade Core Collector is available from 0.8mtr to 2.3mtr widths to fit many makes of aerators as well as Groundsman to core and collect in one pass plus three point linkage mounting for follow-up core collection.
Visit: www.groundsmanindustries.com
Tel: +44(0) 28 2766 7049
Email: enquiries@groundsmanindustries.com
Check out our most compact line of electric largearea mowers the front or rear mounted Eco Clipper, with a 343 cm mowing width for compact tractors.
www.ecoclipper.com
Low Noise Fuel Efficient High Quality Finish Performs well in wet grass 170 cm Transport Width
The UK’s latest bi-monthly publication providing latest product innovations, industry news and opinions from key professionals within the industry.
With focuses on Aeration, Irrigation & Drainage; Greenskeeping; Latest News; Machinery; Pitch & Line Marking; Specialist Mowers; Sports Ground Equipment; Sports Pitches; Top Dressing; Sprayers & Spraying and Turf Management.
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Email: info@mhmagazine.co.uk
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