Professional Groundscare November 2021

The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on activity levels throughout England, but has been most acute across disadvantaged groups and areas of high deprivation. Sport England’s latest Active Lives Adult Survey covers the period from mid-May 2020 to mid-May 2021, which includes periods of national and tiered restrictions introduced to counter the coronavirus pandemic. The survey period ends before all restrictions were eased in July.

Compared to 12 months earlier, there were 700,000 (-1.9%) fewer active adults and 1 million (+2%) more inactive adults between midMay 2020 and mid-May 2021. While there are signs of recovery for activity levels as restrictions have eased, not all groups or demographics are affected or recovering at the same rate.

Existing inequalities have been widened, with some groups hit much harder by the pandemic than others. This is the case for women, young people aged 16-34, over 75s, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, and those from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds.

Those living in deprived areas and also those in urban areas found it harder to be active.

Tackling these inequalities is already a focus and is a key feature of Sport England’s strategy, Uniting the Movement, and these results build an even more solid evidence base for why this work is needed and where resources and efforts should be focused. Sport and physical activity has a role to play in supporting economic recovery from the pandemic too.

Existing research already shows that for every £1 spent on sport and physical activity, nearly £4 is generated for the English economy and society.

Therefore, sport and physical activity can support the goal of levelling up communities and supporting the most disadvantaged people in society.

Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s CEO, said: “This latest Active Lives research paints a stark but unsurprising picture of activity levels throughout England. The decline, which is right across the board, ties in with when coronavirus-related restrictions

were introduced and access, opportunity and the capability to exercise were all massively curtailed. What is more concerning is that certain groups – those who have historically found it more difficult to access activity – were disproportionately impacted. And we know that once habits are broken, they are often harder to restart.

“The good news is that through our work to sustain the sports and physical activity sector during the pandemic, combined with the research and analysis that underpins our 10-year strategy, Uniting the Movement, we understand the scale and nature of the challenge. Sport England’s absolute focus is using our resources, advocacy and network to target communities –places and people – where raising activity levels will have the greatest affect. It is clear that the benefits of activity don’t just manifest themselves physically; the mental health and wellbeing of people is boosted, communities become more cohesive, and the economic impact creates added value locally and nationally, as well helping individual employment prospects.

“Sport England’s challenge now, working collaboratively with all our stakeholders, is to build on the work we have already started and ensure that sport and physical activity is central to tackling the inequalities in our communities, and create a movement that genuinely delivers for all.”

Five ICL Scholars announced

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association and Partner ICL have revealed the five recipients of the sixth ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship ahead of the education programme’s return to in-person learning in January 2022.

The successful BIGGA members are: Kevin Butler, greenkeeper, Saunton Golf Club; Michael Gibbons, greenkeeper, Dunham Forest Golf Club; Abigail Laker, greenkeeper, Frilford Heath Golf Club; Michael Russell, greenkeeper, Preston Golf Club; and Jeremy Ward, head greenkeeper, Bradford Moor Golf Club.

In addition, the five BIGGA members who participated in the ICL scholarship in 2021, when Continue to Learn took place entirely online, have also been invited to attend the in-person event in January 2022.

To earn an ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship, BIGGA members must demonstrate a commitment to developing their own professional abilities by engaging with BIGGA’s Continuing Professional Development scheme

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association Enquiry 34

Sport England Enquiry 33

Dennis G860

Reform Metrac H75 voted tractor of the year

The Reform Metrac H75 Pro multi functional tool carrier, has been voted tractor of the year for 2022, in the best specialised tractor sector.

The award was presented at the EIMA International trade fair in Bologna. The judges emphasized the excellent slope capability and versatility of the H75 model and also the high levels of comfort and safety for operators of the vehicle.

Simon Richard, UK Agent for the Reform range said: “The H75 was designed and built on versatility, efficiency and both user and environmental friendliness. Hydrostatic drive with electronic control offers two speed ranges, two terrain gear reductions and foot and hand drive modes.

“When four-wheel steering is active, the front and rear wheels

run exactly in the same line, ensuring tension-free traction on more difficult terrain. Front, rear, four wheel and crab steering as well as offset four-wheel steering can easily be switched at the push of a button. The system is completed by the electrohydraulic spring brake with an auto hold function which allows

smooth and judder-free setting off on slopes.

“The multi-function joystick combines all functions for driving and for controlling attachments The focus here was on logical and intuitive operation.”

Ventrac package for the RAC

Iain Dye, the Courses Manager at The RAC in Woodcote Park, has taken delivery of a Ventrac 4500 with Contour deck and Tough Cut deck, to help maintain the two downland golf courses and surrounding estate.

Having seen a demonstration of the Ventrac at Tandridge Golf Club, Iain asked Rupert Price of Price Turfcare to visit him and his team with the machine and attachments.

He is impressed with the versatility it provides and said: “We can use it for woodland management with the Tough Cut deck to get into the

“The health and safety aspect was an important factor in the purchase; nobody likes strimming at the best of times, but on steep slopes it’s a particularly onerous task.

“The Ventrac can operate on slopes of 30 degrees in complete safety; it seems to go anywhere!

“The Contour deck articulates well on uneven terrain, reducing scalping on high areas and we’ll be using it on our fairways during the winter to

protect our fairway units from any worm casts.

“Also, it can go out in wet weather as the eight tyres produce only 6 psi, so it won’t mark the finer turf areas.

“We can now raise the presentation around the courses, maintaining steeper banks which we were unable to manage previously.

“These areas can be mown regularly and therefore become even more manageable over time.”

Price Turfcare Enquiry 38

Club goes big with a seven-reel Jacobsen LF 577

According to club history, Craigmillar Park GC in Edinburgh was constituted in 1895, welcoming both lady and gentlemen members.Course Manager, Stephen Sinclair says the boom in the popularity of golf has had a very positive and purposeful effect across the whole club.

When two long-serving fairways mowers needed replacing, he

immediately targeted a Jacobsen LF 577 high performance reels mower to do the work of both.

“I knew the Jacobsen was the machine for us… seven units, cutting width about 3.5 m, lightening quick. Technology advances are night and day since our last purchase, but now we’ve put it through its paces, productivity and precision of cut

are first rate. No complaints at all,” he declared.

The Edinburgh club had their LF 577 delivered in June out of Fairways GM’s Kinross depot, with Fairways GM’s Regional Manager, Rob Hogarth supporting him throughout.

Rob Hogarth said: “The Jacobsen LF 577 uses the legendary Classic XP cutting units with 17.8 cm (7”) diameter units fitted with either 9- or 11-blade reels. Stephen chose nine. They give a uniform cut every time, even when following contours.

“For operator comfort there’s a moveable armrest control pod, so everything is within easy reach – the LCD display screen, the one-touch joystick, and huge amounts of storage. There’s even a 12-volt power socket. It’s a really comfortable drive.”

Simon Richard Enquiry 36

Fairways GM Enquiry 37

margins to clear brambles and brush.

Wroxham kick off the season with Husqvarna Automower

Based in the Norfolk Broads, semi-professional football club, Wroxham FC, has swapped hours of manual labour for eco-smart autonomous mowing, to help the club maintain its vast Trafford Park pitch. In just three months, the club has noticed a significant increase in turf quality, and credits Husqvarna Automower for the change.

Following long hours spent maintaining the pitch, the Wroxham FC team, following a recommendation from agricultural construction and machinery dealer, Ernest Doe, liaised with robotic mowing founders, Husqvarna, and set up a trial using the brand’s Automower 550 models.

Relying heavily on volunteers from the club, Wroxham’s pitch previously took ten hours of manual labour to mow each time, something which was a big undertaking for the team. Turning to the help of Automower, the club looked to free up time, save financial resource, create a healthier pitch, and do their part to help the environment. In June 2021, two Automower® 550 models were installed using Automower Club Solution, to help the team tackle the challenges they were facing.

Barry Letten, committee member at Wroxham FC discussed the club’s move to autonomous mowing: “Following the club’s initial meeting with Husqvarna and Ernest Doe, there was no doubt in our minds that we wanted to test out the Automower technology, and in just three short months, we’ve already seen some exceptional results.

“To maintain the quality of the pitch we’d regularly spend 10 hours at a time mowing and having to rely on volunteers to do it was a big ask. Automower has saved us countless hours and has allowed us to redeploy resource on more important and skilful tasks around the club, without having to sacrifice on turf quality.

“We use the Automower Connect app to control the mowers, which has been absolutely brilliant and has enabled me to track what they’re doing and send them out to mow whenever we want. Better yet, I’m able to do it from the comfort of my sitting room, without the need to make a 20mile round trip.”

Husqvarna

Coombe Wood GC is the ‘best in decades’

Coombe Wood Golf Club in Kingston Upon Thames is reaping the benefits of a tailored turf management programme from ICL and a dedicated greenkeeping team –according to Course Manager Laurence Fennemore.

Laurence explained that his old Course Manager worked with an ICL turf management programme, and he saw the successful results from that first hand.

Matt Nutter, ICL Technical Area Sales Manager, worked with Laurence to put a specific programme together for a full season that was within his budget.

“We needed to focus on the greens and fairways and take into consideration that it is a very wet site, without any irrigation,” said Matt. “The aim was to apply some controlled

release granular fertilisers as base feeds; get some good growth and give the golfers a course that they could use.”

Enquiry 41

New appointments for INFINICUT

To support their ongoing growth, INFINICUT have been busy making appointments as they expand both their internal sales team and external, nationwide dealer network.

Taking up the role of Territory Sales Manager for Scotland and the North of England is Bobby McDougall – a third generation greenkeeper and well-known name, having gained years of valuable experience on both sides of the industry fence.

Also, now part of the INFINICUT network are Hunt Forest Group, taking on the sales, service and support for the range across the South. INFINICUT Enquiry 43

Reform launches three new Metrac models

Reform is expanding its Metrac series and presenting three new models of its successful implement carriers - the H60, H70 and H95.

Powered by Perkins exhaust stage 5 common-rail diesel engines the new Metrac hydrostatic drive, all wheel steering, H60 (61hp) and H70 (75hp) models are compact all-rounders for the UK ground care sector.

A long wheelbase option delivers performance, safety and turf protection on all terrain, including slopes of up to forty five degrees and powerful front and rear linkages, each with 1,500 kg lifting capacity, provide enormous versatility in all seasons.

Operator comfort is a priority with all round visibility, noise insulation, heating and air conditioning and comfort seats, with armrests on both sides.

With a removable cab, providing ease of maintenance on all essential vehicle components, the cooling system, engine, electronics and fresh air intake are quickly and easily accessible.

Combining safety with comfort and based on the successful Metrac H75, the new 95hp Perkins stage 5 common-rail diesel engine powered H95hp model is a powerful addition to the series.

A torque of 410 Nm ensures sufficient power in all driving

and working situations and, in combination with the comfortable hydrostatic drive, offers optimum safety, especially on slopes.

“The long wheelbase option increases stability and ground hugging, the driver’s cab offers comfort and user-friendliness,” said Simon Richard, UK Agent for Reform products.

“The new Metrac H95 is also available in the “pro” version, which features automatic air conditioning, the high-quality additional “R-Guide” display, cruise control, including limiter function and automatic linkage as standard.”

Simon Richard Enquiry 46

Bowls greens transformed with organic feeding programme

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to turf nutrition.

Utilising a range of products from across the Suståne portfolio, some of the greens are now 100% organic, and the remainder are not far away - with all seeing improvements in density, strength and overall plant health.

Following recommendations and some first-hand experience in his years spent contracting on golf courses, Paul has now been using Suståne products for six years. “I got to know Suståne’s Russell Riley and speaking with him was the final confirmation I needed that converting fully over to organic feeding was the way to go. With assistance from fellow contractor Steve Hill, I took over the maintenance of the bowling greens which had previously been undertaken by the local councils and came straight in with the organic approach.”

The programme consists of Suståne 4-6-4 slow-release fertiliser through the winter, switching to 5-24+Fe fine grade for late summer application to provide a quick, even green-up followed by long-lasting sources of organic nitrogen. This is supplemented with applications of Suståne’s Turf Revival 6-2-4 in the spring and Bolster humic acid biostimulant, blended with seaweed & iron, which is applied periodically over 10 months of the year to boost the swards tolerance to stresses –drought, salt and disease.

“Within a timeframe of just two or three seasons, you can see the effects and benefits of the organic feeds as you overcome any inherited problems. After this, and in conjunction with the regular mechanical maintenance, you end up in a situation where the sward is denser, with better rooting structure and improved resistance to disease. Because of this, and especially on those greens that are now 100% organic, we are also enjoying being herbicide and fungicide free.”

bowling greens across Hampshire and South Dorset have undergone a huge transformation thanks to new maintenance contractor Paul Wright and his organic approach

Trusty Dennis G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle

Inverness Caledwonian Thistle FC has said goodbye to its trusty 19-year-old Dennis cylinder mower and welcomed a new G860 as its replacement.

Head Groundsman Dale Stephen admits that it did not take much to convince Scot Gardiner, the CEO to buy a new Dennis G860 – he simply had to look at the job his old one was doing. However, it could have been a quite different story and Dale admits that he was somewhat guilty of judging a book by its cover.

Relied upon at world class stadia and major tournaments, the G860 is one of the most renowned cylinder mowers in the grounds management industry. Lightweight at just 166kg it is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to operate. The handlebar console houses the controls for the throttle, parking brake, roller drive and cutting cylinder drive.

The mower features a large diameter front roller with an adjustable scraper which has

been designed for a precise height of cut control, giving an excellent finish on every occasion. The Dennis G860 also features an interchangeable cassette system to assist with a wide range of tasks such as including scarifying, verticutting, brushing, spiking, and slitting.

Dale has no doubt that his 19-year-old G860 could have continued cutting and preparing the pitch at the stadium but the perfectionist in him wanted a newer model.

“The main difference between the new one and the old one is that I have an 8 bladed cylinder now and I have really seen an improvement,” he said. “The finish is second to none and the sward has really thickened since using it. It is nice and light so you can use it anytime of the year without worrying about putting weight on the pitch. In my opinion, it is the ultimate mower for matchday preparation.”

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Plan ahead with 4turf from DLF

While we may be heading towards the traditionally cooler and winter months, the changing climate means that Turf Managers are not only having to consider the immediate pressures – but those likely to lay ahead as spring arrives and new season growth begins.

As spring and summer droughts become more common, and water becomes a more valuable resource, turf managers need to consider ways of maintaining lush green grass all summer long. The solution could well be in the form of DLF’s drought-tolerant 4turf tetraploid range.

DLF’s 4turf eases the pressure on turf managers. Rooting fast and deep, tetraploid varieties like Fabian, Double, Tetrastar, Tetragame, Tetramagic, Tetradry, and Tetragreen are more likely to survive a spring drought and are better placed to stay green and playable should a summer drought follow.

Years of testing at DLF’s stateof-the-art root-screening facility in Denmark demonstrated how, compared to diploid ryegrasses, 4turf has quicker root growth and develops a larger root mass in the upper layer of the soil, making it an excellent springtime seed. In summer trials, conducted in France and the Czech Republic, it also remained green when the plants were starved of water above-ground.

It’s ability to withstand droughtlike conditions means that 4turf has a wide range of applications. On golf course fairways, for example, where irrigation is often not an option, overseeding with 4turf produces a betterquality summer turf.

The principles could also be applied to sports facilities, parks and ornamental lawns in public locations, where turf needs to sustain more playing hours, with less time spent on watering or maintenance.

4turf is available in a number of mixtures from across the Masterline and Johnsons Sports Seed Ranges including J Rye Fairway, J Outfield and J 4Turf –the ideal choice for overseeding

Wiedenmann UK introduces the Super 1300 S

Welcome the Wiedemann Super 1300 S compact turf and leaf sweeper. This feisty new machine is mounted on the lower link arms of the rear three-point hitch of the tractor so is extremely nimble and manoeuvrable, particularly working around trees and other obstacles.

Released already in the US, it is proving especially popular for tidying sports fields, public green spaces, and residential areas.

In the same mould as its bigger cousins, the Super 500 and 600, it prioritises Health & Safety using a parallel system.

Its pick-up head is mounted in parallel so that the distance between ground and sweeping brush remains constant, regardless of the fill level, and thus adapts to undulating terrain. When you lift the tank to empty, it pivots around on its axis, therefore completely discharging. The high dump feature allows it to tip into trailers and bins up to 1.7m in height.

Equipped with double sweeping rotors, each sweeping rotor has four sweeping rails which help fill the 1.6m³ collection container. Semi-trailed it fits to tractors around 30 hp and has a working width of 1.3m,

Dennis Enquiry

programmes on winter sports pitches and racecourses, establishing in temperatures as low as four degrees.

DLF Enquiry 50

making it sufficiently narrow to get through gates and entrance ways. Optional equipment includes a rear collision guard

with integrated lighting kit and a fill indicator.

Wiedenmann Enquiry 51

ICL’s ProSelect laying the foundations for ambitious club

James Bonfield, the Course Manager at Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club, has revealed how utilising ICL’s range of ProSelect grass seed has resulted in vastly improved fairways and greens.

James has been at the Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club for just over 12 years and claims that the new owners, Elysium Golf Limited, have signalled exciting times.

Working alongside Matt Nutter from ICL, James decided on the ProSelect Classic – a multi-

purpose seed blend which contains Torsion TRT Perennial ryegrass offering the unique Turf Repairing Tiller growth habit.

He overseeded the fairways with this mixture in late April and explained that the sowing rate was adjusted dependent on the condition: “Some areas were weaker than others, so they needed more seed; others were stronger so needed less –each fairway got exactly what I thought was required,” he said.

Once the overseeding had been completed, James maximised

the results of the seed by applying a granular feed to the fairways. The fertiliser he used, ICL’s Sierrablen Plus Spring & Summer CalMag 23-0-5, has proven to be extremely popular with many greenkeepers and course managers this year.

Following his work on the fairways, James’ attention turned to the greens and alongside Matt, the two of them worked together to identify the most suitable seed.

“Based on the pH levels we have round here, which are between 6.5 and 7.5, we felt that creeping

bent was going to be the best for the greens. Anthracnose is also an issue, and with this in mind, we felt that the ProSelect Piranha creeping bent would be the best option.”

As James says, due to the genetics of the seed, Piranha has been proven to be excellent in combatting the likes of Anthracnose, Dollar spot and Brown patch disease. It is the latest creeping bent grass mixture to be added to the ICL seed portfolio and recently gained EU registration.

ICL Enquiry 54

Municipal course maintains the highest standards SISIS Flexibrush key to fantastic fairways

Adjoining Normanby Hall Country Park near Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire, the beautiful 18-hole, par 72 golf course is set in 117 acres of mature woodland and parkland and is considered to be one of the best municipal courses in the country.

Significant investment has been made here over the past year by North Lincolnshire Council.

Improvements to the course have included new tees, pathways and drainage, the installation of a three-bay covered driving range with additional practice facilities, and refurbishment of the clubhouse – as well as a new John Deere course maintenance equipment fleet supplied by local dealer F G Adamson & Son at Langworth.

Michael won the greenkeepers’ nearest the pin competition at the famous 17th hole and still has the signed flag to prove it.

Michael has been back to TPC Sawgrass as a volunteer every year since, and as he says, “Ever since my first trip there, I said this is the equipment that I want to be working with.”

The golf course is now being maintained immaculately by the new fleet, which includes a 2550E hybrid electric triplex greens & surrounds mower,

7700A PrecisionCut fairway mower, 9009A TerrainCut rotary rough mower, 2030A ProGator with Dakota top dresser attachment, HPX 815E and TE electric Gator utility vehicles and a 3046R compact tractor, plus a Tru-Turf R50-11 greens roller and Charterhouse Redexim Speed Brush.

John Deere Enquiry 55

Worm cast dispersal, dew removal, standing grasses up prior to mowing and excellent presentation – the versatile SISIS Flexibrush is having a positive impact on the fairways at the Herefordshire Golf Club according to Head Greenkeeper Jeremy Browne. Jeremy has seen many changes in the 31 years he has been at the club, but he believes the arrival of the new owners is proving to be one of the most beneficial.

With fairways being his first port of call, and with an increasing amount of worm casts appearing,

Jeremy narrowed his search down to two possible machines.

The SISIS Flexibrush is a tractor mounted brush which is equally effective dispersing top dressing and removing excess material on natural turf or synthetic surfaces.

The versatile Flexibrush can also be used for dew dispersal and striping for improved presentation. It has a 5.35 metre working width, its brush sections ‘float’ to follow ground contours and the outer sections fold for transport and storage.

SISIS Enquiry 56

Normanby Hall Golf Course senior greenkeeper Michael

Burgin attended the first John Deere sponsored TPC Sawgrass volunteer programme in 2015, as a member of the Florida course’s maintenance team preparing for the Players Championship.

Versatile Verti-Drain helps Rudding Park prepare for winter

The recent delivery of a VertiDrain 7416 from Redexim is proving key in the pre-winter preparations at Harrogate’s Rudding Park Golf Course.

According to Head Greenkeeper Richard Hollingworth there has barely been a day since the VertiDrain arrived in August that it hasn’t been out – the versatility of 1.6m machine making it ideal for work on all areas of the course including greens, fairways and surrounds.

As a corporate golf course and part of the Rudding Park resort, not only does the club have a very active membership, the surfaces have to be fit to sustain play 364 days of the year… which equates to somewhere in the region of 40,000 rounds annually!

“Because of the volume of rounds, when it comes to aeration it is critical that we’ve got equipment that is not just fit-for-purpose on the greens. We need to be getting some holes into the claybased fairways to deliver the perfect course on any given day” explains Richard, who heads-up a maintenance team of nine.

“We had the 7416 on demo last year from our local dealer F. G. Adamson & Son and used it on all 18 greens, and throughout that extensive trial

period we could tell it was going to suit us and the various requirements of our course.

“It was light enough to aerate the greens with minimal surface disruption, yet strong enough to be effective on fairways and surrounds.”

The superior build quality of the Verti-Drain 7416 makes it ideal for the full-range of aeration tasks; a range of tine options delivering flexible and accurate aeration down to depths of 350mm.

“To date, we’ve aerated all of the greens surrounds and multiple weak fairways with ¾” tines, as we tackle compaction and dry patches ahead of the arrival of winter.

“We’ve also purchased ½” tines for the deep, pre-winter work on the greens and needle tines for the summer.”

Richard adds, “Spanning double the acreage of most regular courses, getting the job done well and quickly is so important.

In my view, the VertiDrain still leads the market in terms of ease-of use and performance, all backed-up with excellent support and service from Redexim and their dealer network.”

Redexim Enquiry 59

Honda UK launches new mowers

Honda UK has added two new lawnmowers to its line-up, offering class-leading cutting and collecting performance and superb ease of use.

The HRN536 VK, and HRN536 VY both have a newly designed 53cm cutter deck.

Power is provided from Honda’s proven GCVx170 engine. The two new models feature multiple enhancements over previous HRG536 models, making them even more versatile and user-friendly.

Smart Drive provides on-themove travel speed adjustment to suit the user and conditions.

Movement and speed are controlled by the handlebar-

mounted Smart Drive ® lever, and the new models have a revised lever design which reduces thumb slippage for greater ease of use.

A new two-way ratchet in the transmission means the rear wheels can turn freely in either direction when the drive control is released, reducing the effort needed to move the mower forwards and backwards while negotiating obstacles and tight spaces.

The cutter decks come with an enhanced Versamow selector. Versamow allows users to quickly switch between mulching and collecting grass, and the latest deck-mounted control is simple and easy to operate.

MicroCut twin blades optimise cutting performance, and the new cutter housing design optimises airflow for best-inclass mulching and collection. The new HRN536 VK and

a demonstration: Call 01789 488450 or e-mail info@st-mach.com

HRN536 VY are suitable for larger lawns including those with slopes and variable terrain.

Honda UK Enquiry 60

READER ENQUIRY 61

Air2G2 336 last piece in the aeration puzzle

England’s finest links, Royal Cinque Ports, has found the final piece of their aeration puzzle by using the Air2G2 336 on their greens and fairways. Course Manager, James Bledge, has been in charge of the Kent based links for nine years, and for a majority of that time, has hired an Air2G2 for use on the club’s large greens. Brilliant results over that time and a desire to work freely between tournaments and trial ideas led the club to purchase their own machine in August 2021, and it was put straight to work to do what it does best.

James explains: “It’s one of these machines that’s hard to quantify because you don’t see instant results, but it’s part of the jigsaw puzzle that comes together with everything else. We maintain really

nice surfaces here, and I believe that to be part of it - we’ve had far less disease than we’ve ever had, and our greens have been firmer than ever. We had four big back to back competitions in this last month. First, we’ve had the Boys Amateur Championship, which is one of the biggest R&A events, then we had a week off before Deal Week, the South East Links Championship and the Halford Hewitt, which is the world’s largest amateur golf competition at the end of that with 640 competitors.

“So this week, we managed to get out and aerate everything, and it’s been well-timed because we got heavy rain at the end of that week, which could have seen the greens puddle up, but instead, they were fine. Not one single person could tell we’d been out with the Air2G2

the Monday following the Boys Amateur, and that’s a seven-day competition with all your practice days and qualifying. These greens were cut and rolled every single day, which could potentially bake them or form a hardpan near the top because it’s such intensive work, but the Air2G2 after that was the ideal thing to do, and they haven’t seemed stressed out since.”

With their own Air2G2, James can now deploy it as and when needed, which includes working on fairways. In the past, the club hired the smaller model, but with the 336, they are able to cover all of their greens in less than three days and build in time to aerate the new 0.8 hectares of fairway extensions.

Campey Turf Care Systems Enquiry 63

The evolution of quality machines continues

Since

Groundsman 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 for cutting multiple strips of narrow sod for sod walling or bunker building.

A Guillotine attachment is available to measure and chop the sod into lengths. Trench, De-compaction and Mole-drain blades cut down to 12cm deep.

Groundsman Aerators are available from 45cm to 180cm working widths.

All use Groundsman’s proven rugged Elliptical Plunge Action mechanism for aeration down to 15cm. Quick-change accessories are available for solid, hollow and chisel tining plus cluster tines for dense pattern aeration, thatch removal and over-seeding.

The Flexblade 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 for follow-up collection.

This incredibly efficient implement follows the contours of greens scooping the cores or linear aeration soil cleanly from the surface powder dry or soaking wet.

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Cut more by stopping less.

Perfect for large jobs on tight deadlines.

With its large 41 litre fuel tank and massive 810 litre collector, the Toro ProLine H800 stops less so that you can mow more –you don’t even need to stop when adjusting the height of cut! And with the High-Lift system, it can empty clippings directly into a hopper. Perfect for when time is tight.

reesinkturfcare.co.uk

1990, Groundsman Industries have developed their unique range of machines and accessories for maximum performance and durability.

Groundsman Industries Enquiry

All year-round aeration with Wiedenmann Multigreen magic for contractors W R Sandow

Head Greenkeeper John Guthrie at Edinburgh’s Duddingston Golf Club favours the little and often approach to aeration.

Maintaining healthy surfaces is key for the parkland club which nestles below Edinburgh’s iconic Arthur’s Seat and has a history dating over 125 years.

The purchase of a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD deep aerator in May, from Scottish dealer, Fairways GM at Kinross, was essential to his strategy, and five months’ hence, he continues to be really pleased.

“It’s making a big difference; I knew the GXi8 would be good, but I didn’t factor quite as quick or as neat. Easily all 18 greens can be done before 1.00 pm, so about a hectare’s worth in total. In the past, aeration tied up three people. we would have had someone following on with a roller and another person tidying up behind.

“The Wiedenmann is so clean, you don’t always have to roll at the back if you set it up properly. Two of the team can be free to do other tasks; resource wise, that is a significant benefit.

“Since May, we’ve taken a discrete approach, tining down on the greens to 100- 150 mm and tees to 200 mm, all with 12 mm tines, experimenting with heave at 5° occasionally.

“From November, we switch to 20 mm tines and might go 250 mm on the greens if conditions allow, possibly again with a little amount of heave.

“The fairways, too, will get the full depth and the bigger tine.”

Sports turf contractors W R Sandow have come to swear by Multigreen temperaturecontrolled release fertiliser from Headland Amenity, to satisfy the nutritional requirements of more than 60 winter sport pitches.

The introduction of feeding programmes is a relatively recent addition to the list of services offered by the Cornish contractors, but in a short space of time the consistency of results and superior technical support from the Headland team has really impressed Director Andrew Sandow.

Established in 1964 and based just outside Penzance, familyrun W R Sandow offer the full package when it comes to the construction, installation and maintenance of both natural and artificial playing surfaces.

“Until recently, we would go in and do the mechanical maintenance and leave clubs to apply product themselves, but you’d often find that due to time or financial constraints, this wasn’t being done” explains Andrew.

“After many discussions and support from the Pitch Advisory Service at The GMA, we began advocating fertiliser programmes based around Headland’s Multigreen.”

Multigreen features urea or potassium nitrate prills within a permeable polymer-resin coating which only start to release their solubilised nutrients once soil temperatures rise above 6 ° Cin line with the requirements of the grass. Nutrient availability is gentle and controlled by temperature alone, avoiding ‘flush’ growth and producing a strong, healthy sward that is sustained for up to six months depending on the analysis.

“We had conducted some trials of controlled-release products and were seriously impressed with the long-lasting results we achieved with Multigreen.

“On the back of this, we now use Multigreen on the vast majority of our football pitches, together with a number of rugby surfaces and cricket outfields, in two different formulations –28-3-15 which is applied in the

spring, following any renovation work and 15-0-22+5MgO which goes down in the autumn. Its consistent release pattern gives the clubs season-long nutrition from a single application, with minimal leaching and without flushes of growth.”

In addition to the performance of the product, Andrew has also been impressed with the support received from Headland.

“Whenever we’ve needed technical advice our Regional Technical Manager Andy Lane has been fantastic. Headland were even kind enough to donate some product for a recovery project we were working on, following vandalism at one of our clubs in the spring of 2020.

“With Headland, alongside the right equipment and expertise, we now consider ourselves to be a one-stop shop to support our customers with their surface needs – from sports pitches to amenity areas, from Lands End to Exeter.”

Amenity Enquiry 66

Headland

Wiedenmann Enquiry 67

Pitchmark announce Fusion and Eco Lite

For the past decade the Pitchmark name has been synonymous with engineering excellence, marking it as a leading manufacturer in the sports turf and amenity industry.

Pitchmark is pleased to announce the addition of two new spray line markers to join the company’s existing, popular range of machines including the unique Hybrid, the Eco Club and Pro, and the Classic wheel-to-wheel markers.

Founded in 2010, Pitchmark is a Queen’s Award-winning family business that manufactures and supplies a complete range of line marking paints and machinery.

Chairman, founder, and exgroundsman of 20 years, Mark Rodman, and his wife Sue shared

the vision of raising the standard of line marking and improving the quality of working life for ground staff worldwide.

Since the company’s inception, Pitchmark’s understanding, experience, and innovation has seen the business grow from strength to strength, as well as being praised for continually delivering for its customers dotted around the globe. In 2021 alone, Pitchmark has increased its employee numbers by 31% and the Bristol-based company has plans to further increase those numbers in the coming year.

Joining the iconic range of Pitchmark line marking machines will be the three-wheeled Fusion spray marker. The Fusion will mimic both the style and

engineering design from the bestselling unique Hybrid, but will boast a new-styled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) body to replace the steel chassis.

The Fusion includes the advanced technology of the bespoke Hybrid front wheels, combined with the adjustable spray head from the Eco Club and Eco Pro. Designed for use on a variety of natural grass surfaces, the Fusion is set to take the professional sports turf market by storm.

In addition to the Fusion, the highly-popular Eco Club and Eco Pro spray line markers will see a third machine join the family, the Eco Lite. The Eco Lite will continue with the four-wheeled design and proven spray system

from the aforementioned machines, but will also replace its steel chassis with the same HDPE material to complete Pitchmark’s latest design.

Much like the Eco Club, the Eco Lite can hold either two 5-litre drums or one 10-litre drum of line marking paint, but there is an option for customers to add a 25-litre tank to the body of the machine.

Despite Pitchmark’s continued success during the global pandemic, one of the key factors behind the company’s decision to add two more machines to its range is due to the increased pricing, and reduced availability, of steel.

By adding this thermoplastic polymer, the machines will still retain their strength and durability,

Turf Tank One makes revolutionary change at school

Bromsgrove School has taken a revolutionary step forward in line marking with their new Turf Tank One. Among it is the Sports Centre, where there are facilities for rugby, football, cricket, hockey, tennis and a vast array of others. At the beginning of the school term in September, Head Groundsperson Richard Hare and his team have to prepare 15 rugby pitches across three different sites, with three groups of staff taking a week to initially mark out and prepare them.

Introducing the Turf Tank to this process is a game-changer for the Bromsgrove grounds team, and for Richard, they are now working with what he thinks is the future of line marking.

“When I first saw the Turf Tank One at the demo, I was absolutely amazed, and having used it, it’s revolutionary,” Richard begins. “It just makes the job a hundred times easier, all the lines are dead straight, and there’s no mess, that’s the other big thing, it’s clean, and it is good to use, it’s easy, and for us, it’s been really, really good.

“We’ve marked in five pitches and the training grids which would have taken two members of staff at least three or four days, and we’ve done that in less than a day and to a high standard as well. Every pitch is a different size; there are no two pitches that are the same because of the different age groups playing sport and the way we have to fit the pitches in around the site.

“This makes it into a one-person job who can set it all up, keep an eye on it and do other things as well. And that’s not trying to make people redundant or anything like that, because as everybody will tell you, there’s always lots of things that people can be doing. And because staff can be working on other jobs, it will help us to raise our standards around the site.”

Bromsgrove’s transition into robotic line marking has been seamless with the help of Turf Tank’s Regional Manager for the North, Matt Murray. A comprehensive demo and installation have been key to all staff members being comfortable with the robot and ensuring they get the most from the customisable pitch, grid, logo and number options.

“Matt has been absolutely fantastic from day one,” Richard explains.

“We set up a training day, and this is the second full day he’s been here, and he’s on the end of the phone all the time if we need any questions answered. When he first visited, he went through all the templates with us and set them up, and it’s superb. It’s the way that we can change as well because, like most schools, we’ll have to change from rugby after Christmas into football, so we have to go through all the pitches again, and change them all to football or training grids or whatever we need at the time. So, it’s unbelievable the changes it’s going to make for us.”

but most importantly reducing costs and improving lead times on production and deliveries.

Additionally, both the Fusion and Eco Lite will be more costeffective than their parent models

for contractors and councils, and purchase costs will be reduced for struggling grassroots clubs looking to improve their line marking across the season.

Pitchmark Enquiry 71

ICL products central to performance at club

David Daly, Golf Course

Superintendent at Hogs Head Golf Club in Ireland, has long relied on a wide range of ICL products, from the initial grow-in to now helping him maintain the award-winning 18-hole course to a consistently high level.

David started in the role when it was formerly known as Skellig Bay Golf Club. That was before the club was bought by current owners Bryan Marsal and Tony Alvarez II.

What came next was an incredible transformation which has since seen the course voted “Ireland’s Best Course” and “Best New International Course” by Golf.com.

Designed by the highly regarded Robert Trent Jones Jr., David was heavily involved in the plans and the grow-in period which took place from 2016 to mid-2017.

Utilising the experience he gained in his previous roles at Waterville Golf Links and Killeen Castle, and by working closely with Keith Boland from Goldcrop, David thoroughly researched the best products to use for the grow-in.

The products he selected were predominantly from ICL, and they have continued to be central to his yearly turf management plan ever since.

At the start of each year David works with his team to create a yearly turf management plan, and although the weather on the south west coast of Ireland means the plan often has to adapt, ICL products are a common feature regardless.

In 2020 there was 2,000mm of rainfall, but David also has to contend with long periods of drought. It is for these reasons that David needs a proven water management product,

and he chooses to use H2Pro TriSmart which he says, “ticks all the boxes.”

TriSmart’s unique tripleactive formulation provides great control over moisture management.

Containing three water management technologies, it provides effective water penetration, even water spread through the rootzone and improves the water holding capacity of sandy rootzones. David applies TriSmart monthly to his tees and greens at 10L/ha.

When it comes to feeding, he relies on Sierrablen 285-5 – a granular fertilizer which provides sufficient nutrition for the entire main growing season in just a single application.

“It is the Rolls Royce of granular controlled release

fertilisers,” he said. “The controlled release formulation of this product is key, especially with so much rainfall throughout the year.”

David uses Sierrablen on his fairways and green surrounds, and because he has a short season, starting in May, Sierrablen’s longevity of 5-6 months gives him a certain peace of mind.

Aside from the spectacular golf course, Hogs Head Golf Club also boasts a stunning clubhouse and accommodations consisting of a luxurious lodge and multiple golf cottages.

Around the clubhouse and accommodations, David uses Gronamic, an organo-mineral fertiliser which he says has “transformed the areas.”

ICL Enquiry 75

Carbon Gold wins best eco-friendly product award

Carbon Gold, the leading supplier of biochar products to professional growers, tree care specialists and gardeners around the world, has been announced as the winner of the Eco-Friendly Products Award in the 2021 Great British Growing Awards.

The award-winning range, which includes environmentally friendly compost, seed compost, fertiliser, soil improver, tree soil improver and lawn improver, is made using biochar, a highcarbon form of charcoal that is proven to boost plant health and vitality when used in soil.

As well as benefiting plant development, Carbon Gold’s biochar-based products also have a direct impact on the user’s carbon footprint. For every kilo of biochar put in the ground, three kilos of harmful CO2 are permanently sequestered from the atmosphere, helping professional and home growers to directly counter the effects of climate change.

The Great British Growing Award winners were announced during an official award ceremony at Glee, the UK’s leading garden and outdoor living show.

The prestigious awards were presented by presenter and author, Ellen Mary, and recognise the very best of the gardening industry, from sustainability stars, through to seed suppliers and gardening writers.

Mike Hartshorn, Managing Director of Carbon Gold, comments: “We are delighted to have been selected as the winner of the best Eco-Friendly Products Award. The Great British Growing Awards are renowned within the industry as the ultimate symbol of quality within the gardening sector, so to be recognised as part of the awards as a leader in ecofriendly gardening is fantastic.

“At Carbon Gold, we understand the impact that that gardeners and horticulture professionals can have on the environment and are passionate about ensuring that it is a positive one. If every gardener in the UK ditched the peat-based products and converted to biochar, we’d be making significant steps toward offsetting our carbon emissions. Our mission is to help more and more people to discover the benefits of sustainable gardening, and this award marks an incredibly positive step in this process.”

Gold Enquiry 76

Carbon

Why genuine batteries matter

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita details the issues around low-quality and counterfeit batteries and how to spot a non-genuine model.

While convenient, the boom in online marketplaces has left consumers vulnerable to low quality or counterfeit goods and in many cases, it can be very difficult to distinguish between the genuine article and replicas.

Many consumers are not aware that online marketplaces are not responsible for ensuring the products they sell are safe, with the ESF revealing that these sellers are not bound to the same laws as traditional retailers.

For power tool batteries specifically, there are many consequences of purchasing and using a non-genuine product – including warranty invalidation, inefficient charging,

damage to chargers and tools, or even potentially very serious injuries for the operator.

To avoid risk, it is vital that tradespeople know what to look for when purchasing batteries to make sure that they select a legitimate model and ensure operator safety.

A key benefit of genuine batteries is their design, as many will include innovative technologies that work to ensure optimum performance.

For example, Makita’s cordless tools, batteries and chargers include a built-in communication chip that works in real time.

This protects each against overload, over-discharge and overheating during use and when charging to maximise the life of the tool and the battery and provide protection against damage. For example, the Makita charger will detect of the battery is too hot and cool it before

charging takes place, which speeds up the process and ensures products benefit from industry leading charge times. If a non-genuine battery is used, the tool, battery and charger will not have this level of protection, which can result in inefficient performance and risk serious damage that can render the products unusable.

Performance

While some third-party batteries claim to have the same Amp hour rating as genuine models, without proper testing and accreditation, it is likely that they are significantly less powerful. To this end, users will not experience the desired runtime and performance expected and instead, will be faced with sluggish and inefficient output.

To ensure safety, reliable performance and output for professional use, genuine batteries will be tested to IEC 61960

(the equivalent to the UK BS EN61960 standard).

Non-genuine batteries also pose a serious health and safety risk. To achieve the high energy density of modern lithium-ion batteries, reputable manufacturers will precision engineer batteries to control charge and discharge current, cell voltage and temperature and undergo rigorous safety checks to ensure their ‘stability’.

However, it is highly unlikely that non-genuine batteries have benefitted from the same high standards of manufacturing and tests, and this could mean that their temperature is not controlled as accurately. This can result in a ‘thermal runaway’ which triggers a chain of events that can cause the battery to catch fire or, in a worstcase scenario, explode.

Pellenc is ‘superior’ for Hard Graft

Hard Graft Garden Services, based in East Lothian, Scotland, believes that Pellenc is a ‘superior’ brand of batterypowered technology.

With a rotational speed of 6,600rpm and a cutting diameter of 420mm, the Excelion 2 battery-powered brushcutter offers superior performance for professional intensive landscaping and forestry work.

Weighing 30% less than petrol-powered brushcutters,

it also has a newly designed smart handle that enables agile manoeuvring and displays digital information in realtime including current speed, battery life (as a percentage and in minutes) and power indication.

The Hard Graft team power the Excellion 2 with the Pellenc ULiB 1500 backpack battery, which gives the user freedom of movement and optimal work quality.

Etesia Enquiry 80

Makita Enquiry 79