Groundsmen Bowled Over By ICL Independent School Seminar

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Groundsmen bowled over by latest ICL Independent School Seminar: Fifty groundsmen from independent schools throughout southern England and the Midlands were presented with a wealth of useful advice and information at the latest ICL seminar, which was held at Edgbaston Stadium – home to Warwickshire CCC and the Birmingham Bears.

Groundsmen bowled over by latest ICL Independent School Seminar

Aimed specifically at turf professionals working in the independent schools sector, the popular ICL Independent School Seminar is now in its fifth year.

Emma Kilby, ICL Area Sales Manager for the Midlands and West, who organised and ran the event welcomed delegates to the event with an outline of what they could expect from the day before handing over to Edgbaston Stadium Head Groundsman Gary Barwell to give an overview of the facilities which includes a total of 24 pitches – 17 of them being first class before giving delegates an insight into pitch preparation and their trials of an SIS hybrid pitch.

Henry Bechelet, ICL’s Technical Sales Manager was next, giving an informative and entertaining presentation on ‘Root Development Technologies’. Areas discussed included what affects turf rooting, the relationship between rooting and nitrogen and what products can help turf managers improve rooting before also speaking about the company’s commissioning of independent STRI trials where he revealed that the results conclusively showed that the use of Sierraform GT consistently increases root development.

Daniel Lightfoot, Syngenta’s Business Manager, was next to the stage to give an illustrated talk and demonstration of the company’s Greencast turf app and a fungicide update including the new regulations.

This was followed by Robert Jack from Dennis and SISIS who gave a presentation on the range of British manufactured turf maintenance machinery the company has to offer. Robert also discussed the recent STRI trials of the SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid, where it proved to be a very effective tool in helping to manage the soil profile, creating better rooting, allowing water and air movement through the profile, keeping disease at bay and helping to reduce compaction.

Concluding the session, Daniel Lightfoot returned to give delegates a greater insight into Instrata Elite fungicide. Daniel explained that when Instrata Elite is applied, it quickly spreads and locks onto the wax layer of the plant surface which provides a protective barrier to the leaf and destroys any disease spores which are present at the time of application.

After the presentations, delegates were given a tour of the stadium by Gary Barwell. As well as getting a close look at the cricket wicket which would be played on later that evening, they were also shown some of the turf maintenance machinery which Gary and his team use on a daily basis.

Emma Kilby, who organised the event, believes that the day’s varied content had been what delegates were looking for and was delighted that the event had been so well supported.

“Today has been a fantastic event and it was good to get so many groundsmen attending,” she said. “These are professional groundsmen that produce surfaces for so many different sports. They come along to the event to learn and to network. It’s not just for the head groundsmen – it’s for all their staff who got an insight into the integrated turf management and agronomic support available.”

Mike Kemmett, Grounds Manager at Harrow School, said the seminar had proved extremely worthwhile and a great opportunity to network with other groundsmen from schools: “I’ve been for the last three events, and actually hosted last year’s event when I was at Haberdashers. It’s a great event to network and meet other people. I particularly found Daniel Lightfoot’s presentation on fungicides interesting as I now have a golf course to manage.”

James Pope, Grounds Manager at St Paul’s School in London commented: “I brought my assistant groundsman Tom Martin with me today. Today’s event was great to speak to other colleagues that I wouldn’t normally get the chance to speak to throughout the year and compare notes with. It was good to find out how Gary (Barwell) prepares his wicket. There are definitely a few notes that we’ve made and will take back with us and try to implement. It was particularly impressive how he logs all of his data.”

Summing up the general enthusiasm from the day, Cheltenham College Head of Grounds Christian Brain said: “This is the first ICL seminar that I’ve attended. I brought another member of staff with me and its’ been good to attend a first-class venue to see what Gary and his team do on a daily basis, which we’ve learnt a lot from to take back with us. It’s nice to hear about what is going on in the industry, the different products which are coming out and the different techniques to apply those products.”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

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Investment Brings Dividends To ‘Loveliest Castle In The World’

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Investment Brings Dividends To ‘Loveliest Castle In The World’: Irrigation system completes Foundation investment at Leeds Castle Golf Club. Leeds Castle in Kent is at the conclusion of a two-year project to revitalise the golf course and clubhouse.

Irrigation system completes Foundation investment at Leeds Castle Golf Club

The extensive project ends with the installation of a Toro Lynx control system, Toro T7 sprinklers on the tees, Toro Flex 35 and 55 sprinklers on all the greens, approaches and fairways of the nine-hole golf course, and Toro 570Z series sprinklers installed around the lawns of the Castle island.

The historic golf course has invested £500,000 from the Golf Today Foundation by revising the layout of the course, adding new vistas, installing new holes and updating the clubhouse. But as Shane Guy, head of tourism, says, there is little point to all that good work if the irrigation system isn’t up to the task of keeping the course in perfect condition: “We needed to protect the work we have done on the greens, tees and the three dry fairways”.

Recommended by PGA master professional and golf course architect Alan Walker and installed by specialist contractor MJ Abbott, the irrigation has been such a success a further system has subsequently been brought across the moat on to the castle island too, with a further 130 sprinklers providing water to the croquet lawn, Maiden’s Tower garden and upper and lower level gardens.

Shane says: “Our system was over 40 years old and did not work properly or consistently. The controlling of the system, from a tablet, is easy for the greenkeepers and they know that their hard work will not go to waste because of a faulty irrigation system. Our greens in particular have really benefitted from the system.”

Set against the backdrop of what is widely accepted as the ‘loveliest castle in the world’, Leeds Castle Golf Course was awarded the investment to help turn the tides of decline seen in the rounds of golf played and the income received. And that “standing start” as Shane puts it has paid dividends: season tickets are up by 250 in just two years.

Having the finances to make improvements doesn’t mean much if you don’t have the team behind the investment to make it worthwhile though, and Leeds Castle has certainly that in its favour. Shane says: “PGA professional golf manager Steve Purves leads an accomplished greenkeeping team of five and we’re lucky to have Alan Walker continuing to consult and inspire the team. The STRI provides invaluable advice on agronomy output and MJ Abbott worked around us as a 24-hour venue, knowing when we needed to do quiet work.”

Jim Price of MJ Abbott comments that installation of this project came with its challenges: “With a moat and lake to negotiate access wasn’t easy, but with a temporary floating bridge constructed to allow machinery to travel from the golf course to the lower island lawns we managed it. The effort was worth it to enable the irrigation to be installed on the castle lawns for the first time.”

Shane concludes: “The course is in great shape and seeing through the investment from the Foundation has been an honour. Now the hard work starts in repaying that investment and maintaining the high standards. The support of the PGA south region has been important too and we have enjoyed working with them for the last three years in the run up to the Leeds Castle PGA South Pro-Amateur Tournament, which is on 12 September in 2017.”

If any more confirmation was needed it’s this: Leeds Castle lines up alongside the Golf in Kent Partners that comprise the county’s Open Championship venues of Royal St George’s – home of 14 Open Championships, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s Golf Club, as well as the London Golf Club and the Final Open Qualifying venues of North Foreland and Littletone meaning they’re in good company to say the least.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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The new Vstrong Doesn’t Miss An Inch

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The new Vstrong doesn’t miss an inch: Every turf professional is naturally looking to preserve their sports pitch in excellent condition. The problem is dealing with weed, thatch and moss requires a continuous maintenance regime.

The new Vstrong doesn’t miss an inch

You need to ensure there is the maximum amount of activity from bacteria and micro organisms to decompose thatch. Whilst aeration combats soil compaction and bad drainage, and the consequent reduction of bacterial activity, scarifying is the route to chemical-free weed management and the prevention of spreading thatch and moss.

The latest GKB Vstrong improves on already proven technology to offer the professional a robust and reliable scarifying machine that swiftly deals with the problem with the minimum waste flow. Operating speeds up to 7.4mph/12km/h mean you can quickly cover a lot of ground for maximum productivity. You can even use the Vstrong on hybrid pitches, stitched or with a carpet, thanks to the height adjustment with two rollers and the facility to lock the working depth.

Richard Dexter, Grounds Manager at Oakham School, who uses a Vstrong for winter renovation on sports pitches has this to say:

“We use the Vstrong initially to remove dead, organic matter and we can work much more quickly. We can do in two passes what used to take four or five with a rake. It’s been fantastic, excellent quality and well-built yet simple and really, really fast.”

At the heart of the Vstrong is the CombiRotor with generically developed 3mm carbide scarifying blades. The blades, in turn, are attached to the rotor by means of the QuickLock system which allows you to attain a depth of 5cm. In combination with the reversed rotation direction you’re guaranteed you don’t miss an inch. There is also the option of 2 or 4mm blades and you can alter the centre-to-centre distance of the scarifying blades.

Vstrong’s patented roller pendulum system puts you in control of the operating depth and as a unique bonus the scarifier comes with a hydraulic adjustable slide, for scarifying close to the edge of the pitch without swiping and soiling advertising boards and pathways. GKB recommends allowing the scarified material to dry before removal to allow nutrients to benefit the turf and to help reduce the expense of removing waste material. It’s worth noting as well the Vstrong is produced in the same innovative manner as the GKB Combinator in energy neutral, sustainable production facilities and developed from the experience of GKB’s own contractor division.

For more information, visit www.gkbmachines.com

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Ransomes Donates to Local Bowls Club

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Ransomes Donates to Local Bowls Club: Ransomes, a Textron Specialized Vehicles brand, has donated a Ransomes Super Bowl pedestrian cylinder mower to Waldringfield & District Bowls Club based in Ipswich, Suffolk, after the club relocated itself to unused land which members have since renovated at Ransomes Sports Club on Sidegate Avenue.

Ransomes Donates to Local Bowls Club

Originally based in Waldringfield, the club was forced to move to Felixstowe & Suffolk Bowls Club, where they rented the use of a bowling green. In September 2016, the decision was made to relocate to Ransomes Sports Club due, primarily, to ever-increasing rental fees. An area of unused land was renovated by members of the bowls club to provide the nomadic club with a permanent home.

With limited funds to facilitate the relocation, Bert Warne, President of Waldringfield & District Bowls Club, and David Schofield, Treasurer of the Club, wrote a letter to Alan Prickett, Senior Director at Ransomes Jacobsen based in Ipswich.

“I wrote to Ransomes on the off chance that they might have an old mower laying around that we could put to use on our recently renovated green,” Warne explained. “I was overjoyed when I received a reply from Mr. Prickett offering to help us out, but I was even more ecstatic when they delivered a brand-new Ransomes Super Bowl to us! Everyone at the club is extremely grateful for the generosity and support that Ransomes has given us.”

Commenting on the donation of the mower, Alan Prickett said:

“Ransomes is one of the oldest established businesses in Ipswich, and has employed thousands of local people over the years. It is in our DNA to support local people, local clubs, and the local community in general. When I was approached by the club, I was touched by the lengths that its members had gone to in ensuring that the club could continue to provide enjoyment and pastime to so many people’s lives.

Renovation work included re-fitting the kitchen in the clubhouse and cladding the roof. Trees, hedges and weeds also had to be removed or relocated, and pipes fitted to provide water access to all four corners of the green. After seeking the services of sports ground contractor Ross Stannard, the green was scarified, top soil applied, and then a total of 100kg of grass seed was spread onto the surface. Commenting on the renovation, Ross said:

“I am very proud to be involved with this particular project. The dedication of the members is testament to the club, and the donation from Ransomes was an extremely kind gesture. I have personally used Ransomes equipment for many years, and I know that the machines are the best on the market for maintaining bowling greens, and sports grounds in general. I’m very happy to have played my part in this inspiring journey.”

For more information, visit: www.jacobsen.com/europe

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Seagull Deterrent ‘Gullsinator’ Arrives in the UK

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Seagull Deterrent ‘Gullsinator’ Arrives in the UK: High-tech faux predator provides councils and schools with a humane way to drive seagulls away.

Seagull Deterrent ‘Gullsinator’ Arrives in the UK

 The Gullsinator, a new device designed to fight the ongoing battle to rid seafronts, promenades, parks, golf courses and other outdoor areas of seagulls, has arrived in the UK, and has already been successfully deployed.

Seagulls have become a health and safety problem for golf courses, parks, schools, racecourses, stately homes, cricket clubs and airports across the UK.

Seagull muggings have become an everyday occurrence in many communities and cause fear among the residents.  Anyone who has ever been dive-bombed – or ‘gull-bombed’ – by aggressive seagulls while enjoying a cone of chips at the seaside will know how scary it can be.

So in a bid to combat the airborne problem, Hartlepool Borough Council has revealed plans to launch a campaign to tackle the problem of the swooping scavengers – which have been known to turn aggressive towards people and even attack them causing gashes, cuts and bruises.

The Gullsinator is made of hi strength foam, shaped like a predator, with an electric motor that glides on grass, water, ice and snow. It’s controlled remotely, so the user can scatter the seagulls from a distance. Seagulls learn not to return to the original area through behaviour modification, thus ensuring a humane approach to eliminating seagulls from the land.

Jeremy from Gullbusters said “The Gullsinator gives local councils a simple and humane solution to the problem. Seagulls pose a regular problem for residents and visitors in seaside towns across the country , stealing food out of people’s hands aggressively in the worst cases.”

Council papers describe the act as “seagull muggings”, and state that “large groups of sea birds congregating waiting for food are intimidating, particularly as the larger herring gulls can have a wingspan of over 1.5 metres.

It goes on to say there is “potential for injury to both people and birds”.

This is where the Gullsinator comes in!

To see the Gullsinator in action, click here

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