Cricket Club Bowled Over By Kubota UK And Lister Wilder

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Kent County Cricket Club Bowled Over By Kubota UK And Lister Wilder Partnership: A maiden partnership between Kubota UK and Lister Wilder has seen two of the leading players in the groundcare industry join forces to support Kent County Cricket Club.

Kent County Cricket Club bowled over by Kubota UK and Lister Wilder partnership

The deal, announced at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, in Canterbury, is Kubota UK’s fourth significant brand partnership in the professional sports arena.  The company already supports Northampton Saints – one of the biggest clubs in English rugby, Andrew Hoy – the Olympic level equestrian rider and the Buildbase Suzuki British Superbikes Team.  This latest announcement with Kent County Cricket Club is Kubota’s first advancement into professional cricket.

Karen Tipping, Kubota UK’s marketing manager, said: “Kent County Cricket Club is one of only 18 first-class county clubs in the country. The team plays top class county cricket with a culture that is committed to excellence and performing to first class standards.  These are values that are also synonymous with the Kubota brand and our products and service offering, so supporting Kent Cricket is a fantastic match for our business.

“The partnership with Lister Wilder to support Kent County Cricket Club is all about continuing to raise the profile of the Kubota brand, whilst at the same time promoting their recently opened flagship depot in Ashford.

“This Depot has undergone significant investment over recent years, with this site supplying the local market with Kubota’s complete range of agriculture, groundcare and construction machinery solutions. We are delighted to be teaming up with our local dealer to support Kent County Cricket Club and hope this will enable us to reach a much wider audience.”

As part of the collaboration, Kubota’s market leading L5040 utility tractor has been donated to support Kent County Cricket Club’s groundcare and maintenance team in the daily preparation of its pitches. The team implement a daily routine that is second to none, working a month in advance, 12 months a year, to ensure its cricket surfaces are in the best condition all season.

Simon Williamson, Head Groundsman at The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence, leads the team; with a wealth of knowledge behind him, occupying various roles within the cricket industry since he was 16. Having spent the past 20 years maintaining Kent’s grounds, Simon now heads up a team of four professionals who look after the playing surfaces, day in, day out.

“For Kent County Cricket Club to be successful playing and practicing on first-class pitches is essential,” added Simon. “This means the type of equipment we use is crucial. Kubota machinery is renowned for being the best on the market for performance and reliability, so we are delighted to be working in partnership with them and Lister Wilder.

“One of the key challenges we face here at The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence, is the outfield is subject to such heavy use throughout the season. Our work using Kubota’s L5040 compact tractor is therefore vital in assisting us to keep the grounds maintained to the highest standard. Without the use of our compact tractor, our work would be much more difficult to carry out; essentially the machine works harder so we don’t have to. The vehicle provides comfort all year round, with an air conditioned and heated cab to keep us performing at maximum productivity, no matter what the weather.”

Kubota’s L5040 is the perfect match for Simon and his team at the club. The cab is designed for optimum operator comfort, with a deluxe seat and an enhanced control panel ensuring high productivity, all day long. In addition, the Glide Shift Transmission (GST) gearbox functionality means that the groundcare staff at Kent County Cricket club do not have to use the clutch to change gear, resulting in smooth and intuitive performance.

The machine’s unique mid and rear Power take-off (PTOs) ensure that a wide range of implements can be used with ease, allowing the team to quickly and efficiently change attachments to increase the scope and versatility of their maintenance regimes. This includes the seamless cutting of the square and outfield every single day, whilst also completing essential tasks such as preparing the wicket, fertilising the ground and top dressing the soil as part of the seasonal renovation routine.

Simon continued: “Prior to the start of each match, a pitch inspection is taken out whereby points may be deducted if not recorded accurately. It can take up to three weeks to make sure the wicket is in perfect condition before a match.  The tractor is an essential piece of machinery, helping us to even out the pitch to the correct dimensions and helping to achieve a good moisture level, with the use of both a roller and verti-drainer.”

The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, is not only recognised as a high profile cricket venue, it is also a popular location for open air concerts. With 15,000 spectators flooding into the ground with as little as two days before a big event, Kubota’s L5040 compact tractor plays a crucial role in restoring the ground to the best condition.

Simon concluded: “Ever since partnering with Lister Wilder we haven’t looked back. As we are looking to increase capacity of the grounds, hopefully there will be room for more Kubota machines to join our fleet in the future. The power, performance and quality of the machinery is certainly a massive asset to our club.”

In return for the support, both Kubota and Lister Wilder will have the opportunity to host seminars, demonstrations and ground maintenance training at the iconic venue. This will support the region’s grassroot clubs and institutions in developing both their playing performance and pitch maintenance, as they look to Kent County Cricket Club as the ultimate standard of cricket.

Phill Hughes, Divisional Sales Director for Lister Wilder, concluded: “We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Kent County Cricket Club for almost a decade, servicing and maintaining all of its machinery to the highest standard. We are delighted to now be working together with Kubota to offer our unwavering support in ensuring the continued maintenance of such a high profile ground.”

For more information on Kubota and its extensive range of solutions visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.

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Gleneagles And John Deere Sign Supplier Agreement

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Gleneagles And John Deere Sign Supplier Agreement: Gleneagles has signed an exclusive contract with John Deere for the supply of golf course maintenance equipment and related technology to the three championship golf courses at the award winning hotel and golf resort in Perthshire, Scotland.

Gleneagles And John Deere Sign Supplier Agreement

The resort’s Director of Golf Gary Silcock and John Deere’s worldwide Agriculture and Turf Division President James M Field officially confirmed the agreement at the John Deere Financial headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, in mid-August. This took place just before Gary Silcock’s visit to The 2017 Solheim Cup matches that were held at the nearby Des Moines Golf and Country Club, where John Deere equipment was used to prepare and maintain the tournament course.

Gleneagles is the venue for The 2019 Solheim Cup, the biggest event in women’s professional golf, which will take place on the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course that also hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup. The inaugural European Golf Team Championships are being held on the same course at Gleneagles in 2018.

Known as ‘the glorious playground’, the 850-acre Perthshire estate was recently voted Best Golf Resort in the World for an unprecedented sixth successive year by readers of Ultratravel, the Telegraph’s luxury travel magazine, and was also named Scotland’s Best Hotel/Resort in the Today’s Golfer Travel Awards 2017, retaining this title for the fourth consecutive year.

“Following completion of recent renovation work on the King’s & Queen’s courses to bring them back more in line with James Braid’s original design vision, our courses continue to provide customers with a world class experience that is second to none,” said Gary Silcock. “With three critically-acclaimed 18-hole championship courses to choose from, Gleneagles remains, quite simply, a golfer’s paradise.

“This new agreement with John Deere will see our two worldwide brands working together to further increase quality and productivity on the courses, through the adoption of innovative, market leading technology. We are going through an exciting period for the greenkeeping industry, as we see the introduction of satellite guidance and telematics fleet management systems dedicated to turfcare.

“As part of our ongoing investment programme, we look forward to working alongside John Deere and local dealer Double A Trading to help develop these systems and keep Gleneagles at the forefront of European and world golf.”

Tim Merrett, John Deere’s Vice President, Agriculture and Turf Division, said: “Gleneagles and John Deere both owe much of their success to a heritage of great performance and strong values, and both organisations are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence. Like Gleneagles, we have built a reputation on quality – not only in our products and dealer support, but also for the way in which we treat our customers and do business.

“John Deere equipment helps to maintain many of the world’s greatest golf courses. We are delighted and honoured to now see our mowers, tractors and utility vehicles at work on The King’s, The Queen’s and The PGA Centenary courses at Gleneagles.”

Brian D’Arcy, John Deere Limited’s UK & Ireland strategic account manager who has worked closely with Gleneagles to tailor the agreement to the estate’s requirements, added: “We see this as a first step towards building a long lasting and productive relationship, so that Gleneagles can become a leading strategic partner with John Deere in the golf industry not only in the UK & Ireland, but across Europe and beyond.”

For more information, visit: www.JohnDeere.co.uk

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Reesink Turfcare Launches Competitive Fixed Term Finance On Irrigation

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Reesink Turfcare Launches Competitive Fixed Term Finance On Irrigation: Reesink Turfcare is the first distributor in the UK to offer customers fixed term finance on its irrigation products. 

Reesink Turfcare Launches Competitive Fixed Term Finance On Irrigation

Available over one to seven years on Toro irrigation control systems and sprinklers, and lake aeration products from Otterbine, it offers customers the chance to invest now in the best irrigation systems and ensure their golf course is maintained to the highest standards.

Finance on turfcare machinery has been something golf clubs have been taking advantage of for years and of course the concept of finance is widely available on most everyday things. In short, the concept is not new. However, it is a concept that has passed by the irrigation of golf clubs. Until now that is, thanks to Reesink Turfcare.

The level and sophistication of financial planning at many clubs today means that accurate budgeting and financial information are now features of machinery operating and replacement programmes. Regular replacement on machinery offers clubs a number of advantages such as increased reliability reducing the incidence of breakdown, subsequent downtime and maintenance costs. New machines incorporate the latest design features and technology and produce a better job. Of course these benefits do not apply to an irrigation system that once installed will last for many years.

Instead, buying irrigation on finance takes away two of the biggest headaches Reesink Turfcare finds exist for those embarking on an irrigation installation: it means installation is sooner and there is less upfront capital outlay.

Robert Jackson, irrigation manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “Anyone who has gone through the process will know that choosing and installing an irrigation system can be a lengthy one. Removing the headache that comes with financing the project means that you’re making the decision-making process a lot simpler and quicker. In most cases committees have approved similar for machinery.”

Flexible and transparent, Robert says: “Through our strong relationship with a proven financial partner we can offer some very competitive deals over one to seven years. Payment plans can be monthly, quarterly, or annually and clubs can finance through hire purchase (HP) or lease.”

Robert concludes: “Given that other than the land, and its bricks and mortar within, an irrigation system is likely the biggest asset a club can own. It has never failed to surprise us that finance hasn’t applied to this level of investment on this vital equipment. We’re delighted to be leading the way providing competitive finance options to our golf customers.”

For further information on irrigation financing, call Robert Jackson on 01480 226948.

Visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Versatile Ventrac for Carden Park, Cheshire’s Country Estate

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Versatile Ventrac for Carden Park, Cheshire’s Country Estate: Peter Pattenden, the Golf Courses and Estates Manager at Carden Park, is the latest groundscare professional to appreciate the benefits of the Ventrac 4500 compact tractor.

Versatile Ventrac for Carden Park, Cheshire’s Country Estate

Purchased from one of Ventrac’s newest dealers, Cheshire Turf Machinery, the versatile machine was delivered with a selection of accessories including Contour deck, Tough Cut deck, Stump Grinder, Edger, Blower and Power Broom.

Peter Pattenden is an experienced turf manager having begun his career at Glenaeagles back in 1991, moving on to Bonnyton Golf Club in East Kilbride for three years, before being invited back to Gleneagles by Jimmy Kidd in 1999. In 2006 he moved south to take up his current position at Carden Park.

“I manage a team of 23 staff here and at Carden Hall, which includes one forester, one mechanic, two estate workers, three seasonals, six gardeners, and 10 greenkeepers,” he said. “That might sound a large number of staff to many, but we manage over 1400 acres; 800 acres of Carden Park including the two championship golf courses and a further 600 acres comprising owner Steve Morgan’s house and grounds and the tenant farms dotted around the estate.

“Every piece of equipment we buy has to earn its keep and this Ventrac certainly falls into this category. I’ve been operating equipment since 1991 and buying machinery since 1996, when I first took up my position at Bonnyton, and I can honestly say this is one of the best machines I have ever bought! Summed up in three words, it’s exceptional, versatile and robust.”

“The Contour deck is great out on the golf courses, especially on sloping tee banks, the Tough Cut deck is superb for land management as it can cut through saplings, bracken and gorse, helping to maintain the areas that consume man-hours and the Edger has saved hours of labour. We have a 1.1 mile drive leading up to the hotel and we can keep this looking pristine all year at a fraction of the time and cost we previously incurred.

“We invested over £400,000 in new cart paths over the past five years and since then we have had a series of storms that have taken down trees, some close by the paths. We can’t send in an excavator to remove the stumps and roots for fear of damaging the paths and that’s where the Stump Grinder has come into its own.

“It’s the perfect size, not too heavy, so we ca use it in the winter months and not too light that it can’t handle the implements. It has uplifted the presentation of the estate in the short time that we’ve had it; it’s simply a no-brainer purchase for any golf course or estate manager.”

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