26 minute read
News
TRENCHER HIRE’S MAJOR MILESTONE
The fleet of pedestrian trenchers owned by Trencher Hire UK have collectively ‘dug-out’ more than 250,000 feet of trenches over the past 12 months. “We are one of the leading hirers of these machines in the UK and the demand among householders for garden projects has even surprised ourselves,” said Operations Manager Steve Kingdom, who calculated the figures.
“Most DIY people will only have the need to hire a trencher once, possibly twice in their life, but are becoming more aware of the benefits of using one over a mini-digger. Pedestrian trenchers are easy to operate and our machines can cover trenching depths of between 150mm up to 900mm. They create neat trenches that require minimum effort to backfill and, therefore, leave a low footprint.
“Whether it’s for laying water pipe, drainage pipe or electric cable, we have a machine to meet your requirements.” n www.trencherhire.com
Agrovista roadshow has feel-good factor
The Agrovista Amenity Academy Roadshow, held at the stunning East Sussex National Golf Club, saw over 70 attendees soak up a memorable day of knowledge, networking, and wellbeing.
Greenkeepers and groundspersons ranging from Course Managers to Apprentices, enhanced their education on a variety of topics tailor-made for those working in the turf management sector.
Danny Negus, Grounds Manager at Devonshire Park, started the day to discuss mental health.
“I thought it was received very well, considering it is a very delicate and personal subject. It gave me an opportunity to highlight some of the data that I collated last year which enabled me to emphasise the seriousness of wellbeing and mental health in this industry,” said Danny.
“We all need to realise there is not a stigma attached to this and we must look at moving forward in a positive way.”
After Danny’s presentation, the attendees were divided into three smaller groups to diversify the experience of the technical seminars which were to follow.
Alan Pierce, from Aquatrols Europe, was on hand to discuss the innovative plant technology behind the leading Redox range of nutritional products.
Neil Pullen from Compo Expert offered his expertise on the different forms of slow-release fertilisers.
Agrovista’s Karl Parry offered a glimpse into the online Agrovista Amenity Academy; introduced the latest trial data on BASF’s Attraxor plant growth regulator and also highlighted the benefits of PrecisionPro.
You can viiew a highlights video by visiting: https:// youtu.be/oQ-LI46D7MY n www.agrovista.
co.uk/amenity
GKB SANDFILLER PRAISED FOR ITS SPEED AND EFFICIENCY
Contractors Marc Kerr Limited have praised the GKB Sandfiller for the benefits it brings to surfaces and operator alike. Combining thatch removal and sand injection in one single pass, owner Marc Kerr delivered fast, firm and free-draining greens to almost 30 golf courses during 2021, with the Sandfiller getting the job done in a timely and cost-effective manner for both contractor and the club.
Marc has been using the Sandfiller for the last five years, conducting work at golf courses and bowling clubs nationwide. “Some methods of organic matter management can be really labour intensive and run the risk of taking the surfaces out of play, which is not ideal given the year-round demand from the members” he explains. Prior to the Sandfiller, Marc was using another machine which required multiple people to operate and left excess spoil and sand on the green which then had to be manually collected when the job was complete.
“The speed and efficiency of being able to conduct both operations, singlehandedly and leaving a clean and tidy finish was the main reason for the switch.”
The GKB Sandfiller scarifies down to 40mm and creating channels which are simultaneously filled with sand or a combination of sand and seed.
Tribute to Barry Huxley
Barry Huxley, who founded the Huxley Golf business with his brother Paul in 2000, has died suddenly.
Barry had been a Director of the Huxley family business Huxley (UK) Ltd for over 50 years, before its transfer to an Employee Owned Trust in 2020. The business was started in 1946 by Barry’s and Paul’s father, Ted Huxley, who began selling Allen Motor Scythe grasscutters in London and the home counties when he was demobbed after war service in the RAF and Fleet Air Arm flying Spitfires and Seafires.
Until 2000, The Huxley Grass Machinery business manufactured and supplied commercial grass cutting and turf maintenance machinery to golf courses and sports grounds throughout the UK and overseas as far away as Japan.
Barry joined the family business in 1970, after an apprenticeship at Ransomes, in Ipswich, to learn about the manufacture, servicing and sales of mowing machinery. The firm continued to prosper, introduced the Cushman Turf Care System to this country in 1975 and began to develop and manufacture its own range of Huxley mowers, turf care implements and trucks.
When the Huxley Grass Machinery business was sold in 2000, Barry and his brother Paul started the Huxley Golf business, having spotted the need for low maintenance, realistic and innovative all-weather golf surfaces.
It was clear from the start that high quality installation was key to the new business and Barry led from the front.
No boundaries for Baroness
It’s a recognised fact in cricket that a good groundsman wins matches and is as much a part of the side as a pacy seam bowler or a gifted spinner. After more than 20 years in the game and winning a good few awards along the way, Simon Lee, Head Groundsman at the Ageas Bowl home of Hampshire CC, for the past two years, knows his craft supremely well.
He also knows a thing or two about the equipment he needs to keep his wickets and wider grounds up to international standard. The arrival of Baroness mowers in the Ageas fleet on the outskirts of Southampton is, therefore, a significant accolade for a brand that has become a favourite on many golf courses across the UK.
Now regarded as one of the best cricket grounds in the country, the Ageas Bowl has taken delivery of three Baroness machines from Lister Wilder in recent months. Simon and his team have a five-unit mid-weight LM551B for outfields and an LM56GC pedestrian cylinder mower for pitch preparation.
Meanwhile, the Boundary Lakes golf course that is another key element of the wider Ageas leisure offering has a three-unit LM315 greens mower.
The decision to opt for Baroness was one that Simon did not take lightly.
“I spoke to other top-level groundsmen and it came highly recommended by others who have had experience of using them. You can read all you like about grass cutting machinery but when the verdict comes from someone you trust then you know you are making a good decision,” he explained.
“When we demoed the machines, we found the Baroness mowers were cutting tighter and neater than the competition and giving us better presentation at the same level of cut.”
The reality of living with the new machines has matched up to the promise from the demo.
“It isn’t just the quality of the cut that everyone talks about and how long the cut lasts. I really like the way the Baroness machines are engineered. That makes life a lot easier for me in managing the whole process.”
Common to all the Baroness machines is the approach to the cutting cylinders, which are individually balanced before being installed and with a heat treatment process ensuring that the cutting edges of both cutting cylinders and bed-knives stay sharp and true.
The LM551B with its 45hp Kubota engine is equipped with a 22-inch standard reel along with optional mower units and accessories, allowing users to create the best configuration to meet their own turf conditions. n www.baronessuk.com
Greens rollers from Smithco
There’s no finer sports turf than that found on golf greens and for discerning golfers true greens with consistent ball roll are more important than fast greens.
Rolling will immediately produce a smoother, truer surface with the improvements easily measured using a Stimpmeter. Perhaps less well known is that this effect will last on the green for up to 48 hours after the roll, leaving a residual effect and higher than ‘normal’ speeds, improving the standards of the playing surface, without requiring daily use of the roller.
Smithco’s Tournament greens rollers provide consistent and true putting surfaces. With rolling widths from 91 cm to 1.78 metres, there’s a machine ideal for maximum efficiency on any golf course.
Smithco were one of the first companies to introduce GPS technology for spraying, when their Star Command system debuted in 2012. Today they are on the third iteration of the system on their Spray Star range of industry-leading sprayers.
The popular Spray Star 1200 features the most accurate spray technology at your fingertips, while the GPS-enabled stateof-the-art Star Command 3.0 ensures a precise application every time. Superior construction materials combine to ensure industry-leading longevity.
The cab-forward design provides superior visibility, handling, and operator comfort, providing and excellent platform that makes the work simple, comfortable, and enjoyable. n jm@smithco.com
Is this the biggest Jubilee logo ever?
Fleet created this massive Queen’s Platinum Jubilee logo at Malvern Rugby Club for the recent celebrations.
The overall size of the painting was 60m x 40m.
The work was carried out by Iain Courage, Chris Bridges, Simon Moore and Ali Stavert, with colleague, Shoaib helping out one afternoon.
Work started on Monday morning at 9am and finished mid morning on Wednesday. The contribution to the celebrations appeared on national TV with Bob Warman, of Central ITV News, saying “it must be the biggest one around!”
Ground printing success
GroundWOW autonomous ground printing robots have become a regular player at Stockport County FC with their ongoing partnership based at the club’s iconic address, Edgeley Park.
The club have been taking advantage of the creative opportunities unlocked by GroundWOW, from activating their pitch-side run-off area to patriotic on-pitch prints for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
GroundWOW’s most recent activations saw giant Freddie Mercury silhouettes printed beside the stage at a Queen tribute concert and a highresolution side profile of the Queen in honour of the Platinum Jubilee.
The prints were all created in a tight operational window together with the live concert installation, the stage builders did their thing while GroundWOW robots printed alongside. The silhouettes were paired with matching word marks, ‘Queen’ for the Freddie’s and ‘God Save The Queen’ printed in red, white and blue across the pitch next to the side profile of the Queen.
The activations at GroundWOW’s nearest footballing neighbour were an opportunity to showcase the SFX Max, their new iteration designed specifically for touchline activations. The Max delivers prints in full colour, up to 3m wide and at an unlimited length.
GroundWOW aims to be the world’s most environmentally conscious and low-cost-efficient electric ground marking vehicle. Being conscious of their carbon footprint has been a big driver since day one and the robots have been created with environmental impacts in mind. The paint is turf, animal and human safe, and the choices of materials and power source were all made with a carbon conscious outcome very much in mind.
Science has also massively assisted the after-event process given the transformational efficiency robots are bringing to paint deposition. Printing on only the top section of the blades of grass, the Stockport prints were removed just as easily as they were put down. Whether it’s artificial or real turf, GroundWOW prints are non-permanent and can be removed by jet washing off or allowing the turf to grow and then mowing over it. This means the same patch of land can be used repeatedly without any long-term damage.
Government responds to GMA’s Red Diesel concern
HM Treasury has responded to the Grounds Management Association’s recent letter calling for a change to the guidance on rebated fuels entitlement.
Within two weeks of receiving the GMA’s letter, HMRC updated its guidance on “Using rebated fuels in vehicles and machines”, to add ‘land maintained by a community amateur sports’ to the list of those able to use red diesel following the regulatory change on 1 April 2022.
The GMA welcomes this clarification but has concerns that although this is good news for Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) registered with HMRC, it falls far short of benefitting the wider sporting community.
“The HMRC’s policy reform paper made clear in its impact statement that there would not be a withdrawal of an entitlement to use red diesel in areas such as sports, yet the guidance does not reflect that commitment,” said Geoff Webb GMA CEO
“We are delighted that the HMRC has updated its guidance to make clear that amateur sports clubs can continue to benefit from the fuel rebate. This will benefit over 7,300 clubs.
“But it doesn’t go far enough as education establishments, professional sports clubs, and the many contractors who maintain sports and leisure grounds across different settings will be hit hard in the pocket at a time when they are facing significant cost increases.
“We will continue to engage with policymakers to seek an exemption for all sports and not just the few. These businesses need sufficient lead time to phase out equipment that uses red diesel to power specialist vehicles and machinery, and we will continue to push the case across all sports at all levels for a reinstatement of the entitlement.”
Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA
Art is now a science with Soil Scout sensors
Golf courses around the world are saving time, money and water by using permanently buried wireless soil monitoring sensors from Soil Scout.
The unique soil condition sensor gives greenkeepers real-time soil moisture, temperature and salinity data, available 24/7 accessible on smart phones and devices.
Soil Scout’s Head of Creative Content, James Baylis, speaks to some leading greenkeepers from to ask how they are utilising the Soil Scout system.
Course Manager John McLoughlin is in charge of his first-ever links course at Wallasey Golf Club, and for John, Soil Scout is about so much more than just what he can save on resources.
“What drew me to Soil Scout is the
live data you get every 20 minutes. Having that at your fingertips is unique in the industry, and it was something that by putting the sensors in, we could fine-tune our moisture management very quickly.
“I also think it’s quite nice to feel like you’re in control. So when you’re at home and going through a dry spell, for peace of mind, it’s great. There is an aspect of mental health within the industry and managing that. There can be times when the greens are drying out or getting too wet, and being able to check that takes a lot of pressure off you.”
In Germany, Erwan Le Cocq, Greenkeeping / Robot and Technology Specialist at WINSTONgolf, operates both underground with Soil Scout sensors and in the sky with drone flights.
“The problem we have is we can’t work on feeling because everyone has a different feeling. When I talk with my boss, he might have a different opinion than me; he might think the issue isn’t that big but having an actual number means we have hard data. It makes it the same for everyone. When we see a number, we know what it means, and we can all work with the same idea, and the feeling is left out so we can work more efficiently and have a better result at the end of the day.
“Making data collection automatic means you don’t spend time on it anymore, so you can only benefit from it. That’s the case with Soil Scout; I don’t spend time collecting because it’s always up to date on my phone, so it can only save me something, whether that is time planning irrigation, money on products or time planning maintenance, and not only for me, but all our team! Supervisor, team coach, irrigation technician and greenkeepers. Everyone can access our up-to-date readings, anywhere, at any time!”
Across the pond, Golf Course Superintendent Ryan Walsh, from Woods Hole Golf Clu,b in Massachusetts uses his scouts to help fine tune the firmness of the fairways.
“Monitoring our Soil Scout data has helped us challenge the status quo for course condition-ing. The nine scouts that we have on the property allow us to time our applications with the soil temps that are available at the click of a button. Instead of probing around multiple times a day, we save a lot of time and accuracy. At Woods Hole, we have a unique property, it’s very steep hills lead to common collection areas. Heavy rains race down the hills and create a wet situation at the bases. With the use of this data, we can fine tune the firmness of the fairways through water use efficiency, enhancing our membership’s experience.”
Back in the UK, Angus Macleod, Director of Golf Courses and Estates at The Belfry, has had Soil Scout sensors deployed on his course for over 18 months now.
“Greenkeeping has moved on. There’s a lot more data collection now. Greenkeeping has always been an art, but now it’s a science.
“We need to produce a quality golf course every single day. And we’re seeing that more with the data now available on your phone. For example, by using Soil Scout’s sensors, we can make the right judgement call at the right time of the year, meaning we can now plan how we organise and manage the team, adding products and agents to the course, and then presenting our progress to our owners.” n www.
soilscout.com
Angus Macleod: “Greenkeeping has moved on.”
Tribute to Peter Britton
One of the most popular and well known figures within the industry, Peter Britton, has died.
Peter worked for Pitchcare since 2005, using his expertise in both Sales and Production to great effect, while, showing his genuine versatility, he also wrote articles for the magazine.
He was a regular attendee of both BTME and SALTEX and was always someone who could be relied upon to ask knowledgeable and thoughtful questions at press conferences.
While we all worked for different industry titles Peter was always of the mind that we were colleagues rather than rivals and was quick to give credit if he felt something had been done well by someone from another magazine.
All at Turf Matters offer condolences to Peter’s family and everyone at Pitchcare.
Toro UK have opened a visitor centre at their Spellbrook factory in Hertfordshire. After significant investment, an old agricultural building based by their test fields has been converted into a multi-functional visitor centre, which includes a kitchen, toilets, Wi-Fi and full audio visual facilities.
Capable of holding small intimate meetings to large events, the building will give the opportunity for Toro to welcome more groups to the site, including customers and Dealers from both the UK and Europe.
In honor of the founder of Hayter mowers, Toro UK have named the building the “Douglas Hayter Visitor Centre” and have added various nods to the site’s history in the form of a history wall, display cabinets and even some heritage and special edition machines.
Toro UK combined the launch of the visitor centre with a celebration for staff of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Having held a Royal Warrant for supplying Her Majesty the Queen since the 60s, it was especially important for the Toro UK team to celebrate this occasion.
“This visitor centre provides Toro with a really useful space to host and interact with our Dealers and customers. From training to new product development, this visitor centre will be vital to growing our business in the UK” said Craig Hoare, Sales & Marketing Manager.
“There was only ever one choice, when it came to naming the building and I am so pleased we have been able to honour Doug Hayter, the man who started it all and to be able to bring some of our history into the building.” The first official Customer event to be held in the new Visitor Centre will be the Toro UK Dealer days in September, where Dealers will get to tour the factory and see the new ranges for the 2023 season.
Toro opens new visitor centre – and names it after founder of Hayter mowers
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Turf Matters on Twitter 13,405 followers
Turf Matters email newsletter 26,615 subscribers
Turf Matters on Facebook 3,562 followers
Turf Matters on Instagram 4,977 followers
Turf Matters on YouTube 184,094 views
We want to hear what you have to say. All of our social platforms are open forums where we encourage people to share knowledge and experiences… make sure you’re part of it!
www.turfmatters.co.uk
Made for every slope
Cub Cadet has created the industry’s strongest line up of zero-turn riders – whether you are a landscape professional looking for a machine that can handle any terrain or a small business owner looking for a machine for your customers large lawn maintenance.
The new top of the range Z9 183id zero-turn, proven by landscape professionals, will fulfil all commercial requirements.
With extremely wide double wheels, the Z9 has been developed to effortlessly tackle even the steepest slopes up to 25 degrees.
The ability to control all four wheels with a steering wheel and steerable front wheels, an exclusive offering by Cub Cadet in the commercial sector, minimises the turf being churned up by the wheels. The patented SyncroSteer technology means that even the less experienced operators can benefit from the ease of use and amazing manoeuvrability of this machine.
The Z9 reduces mowing time by up to 10% compared to lap bar mowers, provides greater hillside stability, enhanced traction on uneven terrain as well as mowing in straighter lines.
It powers through the thickest grass in one pass at maximum speeds of up to 12mph meaning you can do the job quicker. The high lift Marbain blades with a blade tip speed up to 18,500 fpm and the 3” total blade overlap will ensure that you always get a tight consistent cut.
The Kawasaki EFI engine provides the consistent power you need to get the job done and maximise your work-day – reducing the downtime which could cost you both time and money. The petrol engine benefits from having reduced fuel usage, while the 2 x 34 litre tanks gives you the ability to operate all day.
The award-winning design of the XZ7 L152i redefines the zeroturn mowing experience – with enhanced strength, re-imagined comfort and a best-in-class cut.
With a large cutting width of 60”/152cm, the machine puts owner/ operator comfort at the forefront of its design with a premium high-back seat with armrests and adjustable suspension for fatigue-free working.
It is ideal for mowing rolling hills, with its outstanding stability on slopes, and around obstacles, with its effortless manoeuvrability. Even on the most difficult lawns the spring-mounted suspension on the front wheels ensure a smooth ride with less vibration.
The new models in the XZ6 range give unmatched steering capabilities in challenging terrains. The industry-leading SyncroSteer technology for full control of the front wheels, combined with powerful Cub Cadet and Kawasaki engines makes the XZ6 series the ideal machines for large lawn maintenance if you prefer the ease of a steering wheel.
It’s a perfect fit for Barry
Littleport Bowls Club is unusually situated in the centre of a large housing estate, so any new equipment must tick three key boxes according to groundsman Barry Greatbatch.
Barry, who works alongside Head Groundsman David Page, has been helping to maintain the Clubs’ 2,025m2 green for 12 years and feels the Club is now in a good position again following a difficult couple of years during the Covid pandemic.
“It’s been a challenging time for the Club and its members and, given that we’re quite a small club and the staff here are all unpaid volunteers, the purchase of any ground-care equipment is generally done with three things in mind – efficiency, affordability and noise levels.
“The estate has literally grown up around us over the years so it’s important we get on well with our neighbours and that means being considerate and using low decibel emitting machines wherever possible.
“In 2019 our previous 30-year-old sprayer was coming to the end of its working life, so we approached local manufacturer Techneat Engineering for ideas on a replacement. Our call proved timely as the company had begun work on a new design for the Acuspray Solo, a lightweight pedestrian sprayer for turf-care that offered accurate spray coverage.
“Allowing the company to trial their prototype at our Club, we eventually purchased the first Acuspray Solo off the production line, and it’s certainly been a good investment.
“The very low decibel emissions are a big plus, meaning we can use the machine early in the morning before members arrive and even in the evening, if required. We’ve made two modifications since purchase, lowering the boom by 15cms to reduce spray drift on windy days and mounting a new plug-in charging point at the rear of the sprayer tank which saves time removing the battery from the machine when recharging,” explained Barry.
For hire: A ‘greener’ solution to weed control and other benefits
Weedingtech, developers of the world-leading herbicide-free weed control product Foamstream, have announced the launch of a brandnew rental service - available to customers throughout the UK.
The introduction of the new hire programme provides an opportunity for people to quickly and easily discover the environmentallyfriendly Foamstream solution for complete weed and moss control, eliminating the sometimes lengthy and complex capital procurement process.
Since its launch in 2011, Foamstream has redefined nonherbicidal vegetation control. Its patented low-pressure process combines hot water and a biodegradable foam, made from natural plant oils and sugars, which acts as an ‘insulation blanket’ to retain the heat and keep the water in the ‘kill zone’ for longer.
In addition to eradicating the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores that haven’t yet germinated, providing a long-lasting solution that is safe to use around people, animals and sensitive environments including water courses.
A recent study into the overall efficiency of Foamstream, conducted by the University of Athens, concluded that its performance was comparable to that of Glyphosate, and it appeared to surpass the results of a number of other nonchemical methods which only provided a moderate level of weed control. Effective and easy to apply, Foamstream is delivered through one of Weedingtech’s industry-leading machines.
The range is mountable on an array of vehicles and UTVs and encapsulates different power options to deliver the perfect combination to meet the requirements of clients in all areas of grounds and green space management.
The new rental package includes 100L of the organically-certified foam, the latest high-specification machinery and full technical training for a set weekly rate. In addition, an information of things (IOT) tracker is included as standard, to provide accurate measurement of output and ongoing remote support.
Not only does this new service provide a cost-effective option to those looking for a ‘greener’ solution to weed control, the Foamstream machines can deliver additional value when used for other outdoor cleaning tasks such as gum removal, power washing and sanitisation. n www.weedingtech.com
Maintenance tools from Turfco
Turfco turf maintenance equipment is ideal for turf management with a range of topdressing, blowers and overseeding machines, which can be tractor-mounted and towed-behind a suitable transport unit. They are ideal for recreational and professional sports pitches, stadium pitches, cricket outfields and most fine turf areas on golf courses.
WideSpin 1550 topdressers are available in truck-mounted and towbehind models with petrol engine or hydraulic power options. They are available with standard electronic control or a patented digital Smart Controller.
The TriWave 60 and TriWave 45 are a new breed of overseeder that can significantly increase the success of overseeding operations by up to 30%, especially on contoured ground. Disruption of existing turf, the inability to follow ground contours and limited seed germination when using existing equipment, was the driving force behind this development. WaveBlade counter-rotating blade technology creates a U-shaped slit providing more seed to soil contact and the patented seed delivery system places seeds into the slits without waste, increasing germination.
The TriWave 45 is a self-contained trailed overseeder, which can be towed behind a utility vehicle, quad bike, bunker rake or tractor, and provides versatility and easiest operation of any overseeder on the market. Power comes from an 25 hp Briggs and Stratton Vanguard petrol engine and it quickly attaches to most turf vehicles making it convenient and efficient to use.
Turfco’s Torrent 2 is powerful allpurpose blower, available in tow-behind or tractor-mounted pto-driven formats and delivering unprecedented control over air speed, air direction, noise management and fuel consumption. This is a precision clean-up tool that can used year-round.
Built on a heavy-duty frame with a rugged draw bar and adjustable hitch the Torrent 2 is designed for durability. The one-piece nozzle is made of impact resistant molded polyethylene. n jmoore@turfco.com
