Golf Club In Top Condition

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Golf Club In Top Condition: Finley Golf Club is being kept in top condition, all thanks to its dedicated volunteers.

When visitors arrive at the course, it doesn’t take long to understand why the club is considered among the best courses in the Murray River region.

Finley Golf Club captain Rand Wilson described it as one of the Murray’s best kept secrets.

‘‘I’ve spoken to tourists from the USA and UK who say they’re shocked a town the size of Finley has a golf course and they’re just as shocked with the beautiful condition the course is in,’’ he said.

‘‘We have over 160 members and they all volunteer their time.

‘‘The only paid employees we have are part time bar staff and full time greenkeeper.

‘‘Our motto is ‘the friendly club’ so it’s natural for our members to help out when they can.’’

One of the club’s longest serving volunteers Pam Angove said without the dedication of the the volunteers the club wouldn’t survive.

‘‘The golf club is a great asset for our town and to lose it would be devastating,’’ she said.

‘‘Our president Deb Pyke has managed to gain several grants to help upgrade our facilities such as the kitchen.

‘‘I love volunteering. Every time I come here I have such great fun helping out.’’

The course is under constant care from the greenkeeper and volunteers that help mow the lawns and clean up the course of tree branches and debris.

Maintenance volunteer Barry Wilson said the course is in the best condition it has been in.

‘‘A while ago work needed to be done and the many volunteers like to present a top quality course,’’ he said.

‘‘The course in the last month has been in top condition.

‘‘Trees have been pruned and you can see right through the entire course.

‘‘When we hosted the Riverina Ladies Golf Association Championship we had constant positive feedback of players who want to come back because they admire such a great course.

‘‘Finley should be proud of its golf club.’

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AquaTrax Keeps Pitches Pristine

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AquaTrax Keeps Pitches Pristine: Lillieshall is one of the United Kingdom’s National Sports Centres and centres of excellence. The centre is set to host to some of the country’s leading sports activities like Archery, Gymnastics and Hockey. Within the 350 acre site are 2 synthetic pitches, a water based hockey pitch and a multi-sport surface. The Grounds Supervisor Peter Bolland, and his team of 6 which includes an apprentice, have their work cut out ensuring all the facilities meet their rigorous requirements and are kept performing at their best – which they do with the help of Replay Maintenance.

“The centre has a rich history,” explains Peter, “and having previously been on the English Heritage at Risk Register, but following a management plan set up back in 2013, the team are now working on a long term 21 year master plan, to bring the site back to the 1830’s when the Duke of Sutherland would have been prevalent. The majority of maintenance work, including pitch renovations, is conducted in-house and this is no different when it comes to the regime on the artificial surfaces.  We do cleaning,
drag-mat/brushing and removal of debris on a daily and weekly basis, but as a training facility for GB Hockey and other international teams alike we like to go that step further and have Replay in to conduct a deep clean at least once a year.”

AquaTrax Keeps Pitches Pristine

Their most recent visit saw Replay utilising their unique AquaTrax process on the two synthetic pitches.  This process combines pressure washing and vacuum extraction to dislodge and remove dirt and algae growth. The annual work also ensures that the surfaces pass the Centres twice-yearly audits.

Replay have been working with Lillieshall for a number of years and Peter says that, moving forwards, he has no reason to change that. “It tends to be the same guy visit each year.  He’ll report in and, unless there are any issues, he’ll just crack on with the job – there are times we don’t even know he’s there! They do such a great job, right from the initial quote and advice through to the actual work – they’re knowledgeable, always really helpful and work together with us in meeting the standards for the pitches and our facility as a whole.”

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

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TYM Compact At LAMMA

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TYM Compact At LAMMA: Reesink Turfcare will be showcasing all that is new to TYM Tractors at LAMMA 2018. The new T393 compact tractor will be on show, as will a pick of the new range of attachments, all of which offer even more versatility and value to every tractor.

Bridging the gap from the compact utility range into the mid-duty range is the T393. With a 38hp Yanmar engine it’s powerful but compact, and more than capable of managing the small and large jobs. It has one of the highest lift capabilities in its class with a lift capacity of 1200kg and has one of the highest hydraulic flow rates with a maximum output of 42 litres per minute.

TYM Compact At LAMMA

There are two transmission options including a three range HST option which comes equipped with a new ‘Auto Throttle’ function, linking the HST pedals to the engine throttle to synchronise the tractor’s speed and engine rpm. This simplifies tractor operation and reduces fuel consumption.

Tractors are of course designed as implement carriers. Making use of attachments rather than bringing in additional machines for mowing, tilling and shredding saves space in the shed and is far more economical. New to TYM, and the show, is a range of attachments designed to bring even more value, versatility and productivity to the machine. At LAMMA there will be a finishing and flail mower attachment and two rotary tillers.

Completing the line-up are the stablemates: TS25, TE40, T433, T503, T654 and, finally, the T754, giving visitors to stand B118 a look at the smallest to the largest horsepower and plenty in between.

Steven Haynes, TYM sales manager, says: “Reesink Turfcare introduced the TYM brand to the UK six years ago and it’s been very well received by the market in that time. Brand development has been progressive and we’re now in the perfect position to enhance our focus on the opportunities for our dealers across the country.”

With the experienced Reesink Turfcare TYM team on stand, including new recruit John Addy who is the brand’s northern regional sales manager, to advise on everything from the most suitable machine for your specific jobs, to all the optional extras, it’s the stand that should be high on all visitors’ itineraries.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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New Finance For 2018

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New Finance For 2018: Reesink Turfcare begins the new year in style, announcing two new finance deals for TYM Tractors.

TYM customers can choose between two interest-free options. Option one is buy now pay in June 2018, with full payment due at that point. The second option spreads the cost over two years with 22 equal monthly payments.

New Finance For 2018

TYM sales manager Steven Haynes says: “These finance options are designed to help customers buy the tractors they need without compromising cash flow, allowing them to replenish or add to their fleet of turfcare equipment in a way that suits their financial situation.

“The TYM range in the UK underwent some healthy expansion in 2017 and its continued popularity saw Reesink Turfcare invest heavily in the brand, bringing more choice to customers: more product launches, more attachments and more investment in the sales team. 2018 follows suit as soon as we enter the year, with more options for customers to purchase TYM.”

These finance deals apply to the entire range of TYM tractors, from the smallest to the largest horsepower and includes the latest model to join the range – the T393. This newcomer is already appealing to a broad range of customers for its ideal positioning, bridging the gap in the TYM line-up from the compact utility range into the mid-duty range.

Both deals are available from 2 January until 2 March 2018 and apply to a maximum of 60 percent of the RRP. Finance is subject to acceptance and only available in the UK.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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IOG Advises Pay Rise

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IOG Advises Pay Rise: The leading membership organisation for those involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK, the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), is recommending a 2.5 per cent increase in grounds staff’s national minimum salary bands for 2018. 

But the IOG also advises that a 2.5 per cent increase would, in real terms, equate to an increase of just 0.1 per cent when the projected Consumer Price Index (CPIH) is accounted for.

IOG Advises Pay Rise

However, the IOG says the increase would:

Maintain a sustainable pay structure for all grounds staff
Account for inflationary pressures, and
Ensure grounds staff pay is in line with overall market trends. Most pay awards in the private and leisure sectors are predicted to be two to three per cent in 2018.

Based on independent, industry-wide research, the IOG recommendations also suggest a two per cent extension to the top of each pay band, to allow for greater professional development and to reward experience.

The IOG recommended national basic salary bands for 2018 are:

Grounds manager
£34,909-£54,079

Heads groundsperson
£29,773-£40,863

Deputy head groundsperson/sole charge
£24,358-£31,088

Groundsperson (skilled)
£22,779-£29,059

Groundsperson
£18,250-£23,281

Junior groundsperson
£15,517 (Age 17)

Junior groundsperson
£12,886 (Age 16).

These bands reflect minimum recommended basic salary payment and are based on a 37.5-hour week. Bonuses, overtime and subsistence payments have not been included and are therefore additional.

The IOG also recommends that employers ensure they meet their obligations in terms of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and ensure fair payment for overtime worked – by agreement about the balance between overtime pay, time off in lieu or flexible working.

Regional pay allowances continue to be incorporated into the salary bands and the IOG recommends that higher cost areas of the country should make salary awards at the upper levels of the bands. Regional differences are:

Inner London
£3,751

Outer London
£2,240

Fringe areas
£670-£1,345.

It is expected that the recommended minimum pay rate for a groundsperson in London should be £20,000 – though there is an expectation that most in this category would already be paid above that, in line with previous recommendations.

In addition, £550 per annum should be paid to those in junior groundsperson and groundsperson bands for the successful completion of IOG qualifications such as NVQ Levels 1 and 2, to encourage recruitment and ensure an ongoing focus on training and professional development. With low productivity forecast over the medium term, it is desirable to further incentivise the acquisition of skills, the IOG adds.

The recommendations have been made against a backdrop of economic uncertainty caused by Brexit and a revised (downwards) expectation for GDP growth in 2018 (from 1.7 per cent to 1.4 per cent). Poor productivity is a key factor in economic growth and, while this is notoriously difficult to measure in the leisure industry, it is likely to be a continued depressor of growth.

For the year to October 2017, the CPIH (Consumer Price Inflation – including owner-occupier housing costs) recorded inflation at 2.8 per cent, while the Retail Price Index forecasts 3.6 per cent. In addition, interest rates rose from 0.25 per cent to 0.5 per cent in November 2017 and the National Living Wage, for people over 25 years old, also increased to £7.50 per hour in April 2017. It will rise again by 4.4 per cent, to £7.83, in April 2018.

Average earnings have been lower in the public sector than in the private sector since 2015 – provisional estimates for average earnings put public pay growth at 1.8 per cent compared to 2.3 per cent in the private sector – but in September the government announced the end of the one per cent pay freeze for average public sector pay awards. This year government will consider recommendations of the Pay Review Bodies to inform pay awards.

The research was carried out independently by Myriad Research (www.myriadresearch.co.uk) using a number of data sources for analysis.

While the IOG salary survey reflects the diversity of the industry, the IOG is aiming to undertake a more in-depth analysis of pay scales in elite stadia management, to compare and contrast with global salaries for iconic sports venues. This new level of research will be part of the industry-wide research that the IOG will be undertaking this year.

For more information, visit: www.iog.org

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