Devon Golf Club Suffers ‘Worst Vandalism In Living Memory’

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Devon Golf Club Suffers ‘Worst Vandalism In Living Memory’ – Northam’s prestigious Royal North Devon Golf Club was blighted by vandals earlier this week (Tuesday).

The famous Westward Ho! club, which is the oldest golf course in England, suffered flooding across three holes after vandals broke open a water hydrant.

Devon GC Suffers ‘Worst Vandalism In Living Memory’

Flags were also used to pull up turf on the greens.

The club has reported the incident to the police and said it intends to prosecute the offenders if they are caught.

General manager Mark Evans said the ‘mindless vandalism’ was the worst the club had suffered in living memory.

“We are lucky in some ways because we don’t usually get it.

“It’s just wasting everybody’s time having to repair something they shouldn’t have to.

“We found it at 6 o’clock this morning when the green keepers got to it and we think it must have happened between nine and 10pm last night by the amount of water.

“They’ve opened a hydrant and everything was flooded quite badly. You know you’ve got a problem when the bunkers are holding water.”

The bunkers have been taken out of play at the golf course until the damage can be rectified.

Green keepers spent four hours on each of the three flooded greens to make them playable, but Mr Evans said they can take six months to return to normal.

Anyone with any information about the incident can contact the police via 101@dc.police.uk, or by phoning 101, quoting crime reference CR033334-17.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555111 or www.crimestoppers-or.uk

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Kubota UK Returns To Its Natural Roots

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Kubota UK Returns To Its Natural Roots. Kubota UK, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of agricultural, construction, groundcare equipment and industrial engines, has teamed up with Sylva Foundation, an environmental charity, to support the local community and its surrounding landscape.

Earlier this month, Kubota launched its partnership with the charity by taking part in an ‘Earth, Wind and Fire’ event at the Sylva Foundation Wood Centre, situated in the South Oxfordshire countryside.

Kubota UK Returns To Its Natural Roots

Kubota employees planted 25 trees throughout a 10×10 metre plot as part of the Sylva Foundation Future Forest scheme, which allows people to build a lasting affinity with a growing woodland by sponsoring their own plot. The new initiative spans over three hectares and contains 325 individual plots that can be sponsored by individuals, families, schools and businesses.

Speaking of the partnership, Candice Dillingham, HR Manager for Kubota UK, said: “Working with the Sylva Foundation is such a natural and organic fit for Kubota as the charity’s commitment to the safekeeping of the natural environment and creating a sustainable future is very similar to our own.”

“The Earth, Wind and Fire event was a fantastic experience for all of the Kubota employees involved. As we are one of the biggest employers in Thame, we are dedicated to giving back to the local community, so being able to support and develop the region’s natural landscape allows us to do just that.”

Throughout the day Kubota employees planted a range of trees, including Japanese red cedar and wild cherry to name but a few. Employees were also offered the opportunity to explore the 14 operational wood-based businesses located on site, allowing them to meet with different experts and craftsmen. Here they could see how versatile the various types of wood are and how their applications can vary exponentially.

Gabriel Hemery, Chief Executive of the Sylva Foundation, said: “At Sylva we help people and trees grow together. Being able to work alongside Kubota UK to help fulfil this mission has already been a great experience for all involved. The newly-planted trees demonstrate the beginning of a working countryside that will help to connect local people to the natural environment around them.

“As both organisations have so much in common, it’s fantastic that we can work together to support good countryside management throughout Oxfordshire.”

The event marks just the beginning of the partnership between Kubota UK and the Sylva Foundation, with Kubota employees being able to tend to their trees and watch them develop over the coming years.

To find out more about Kubota and its market-leading range of agricultural, construction and groundcare machinery solutions, visit www.kubota.co.uk and to find out more about the Sylva Foundation and its range of sponsorship opportunities, visit www.sylva.org.uk.

Rigby Taylor Congratulates EFL Groundsmen Of The Year

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Rigby Taylor Congratulates EFL Groundsmen Of The Year. Rigby Taylor, the company at the forefront of supplying innovative products for the successful management and maintenance of turf surfaces and a co-sponsor of the ERigby Taylor Congratulates EFL Groundsmen Of The YearFL (English Football league) Professional Football Groundsman of the Year Awards, congratulates the winners of this year’s awards:

  • Premier League – Manchester United
  • Sky Bet Championship – Aston Villa
  • Sky Bet League One – Sheffield United
  • Sky Bet League Two – Carlisle United.

Commenting, Rigby Taylor’s Marketing Director Richard Fry said: “We are very proud to be a sponsor of the awards as they recognise the tremendous advances made in sports pitch groundsmanship and pitch presentation. All the nominees produced wonderful playing surfaces and those awarded first place in each of their leagues should feel justly proud of their team’s performance.”