Fast Greens At Knole Park GC

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Fast Greens At Knole Park GC: Located within the boundaries of Knole Estates in 1,000 acres of outstanding Kent parkland and with 600 deer roaming freely around the estate is a club like no other. 

Knole Park is one of the most unique courses in the country; not only for the aforementioned reasons, but also for the fact that this one course plays home to two clubs. 

Fast Greens At Knole Park GC

Course manager at the club, which is home to Knole Park Golf Club and Sevenoaks Town Golf Club, is Gavin Kyle who has been at the club for 15 years. Gavin keeps a regular annual machinery replacement programme and this year he had a focus on choosing the right machines to create firm, true, fast surfaces, which is where Toro joins the story.  

 “It is important to consistently maintain a challenge for players,” says Gavin. “It’s for this reason that recent years have seen us extend the course by 200 yards, with further extension planned in the next year. There is a fine balance between offering a good game to all golfers, including those with a five handicap and below. We have players of all abilities across our two-club membership including a lot of scratch players and our greens needed an update this year to offer a consistent challenge to all.  

“When choosing our next greens machines we checked out the market, going through rounds of demos from distributors. If I’m honest I haven’t bought Toro since I’ve been at Knole Park, so for 15 years! But Toro is renowned for its greens machines in particular so were naturally included on the demo list. What appealed with the Greensmaster TriFlex 3420-H machines, which we went for, was that they’re hybrids. I sought to reduce the risk of hydraulic leaks on the greens and I wanted the advanced control these machines can offer.” 

The TriFlex Hybrid’s electric cylinder circuit is designed to eliminate up to 90 percent of hydraulic leaks, and the Turf Guardian leak detection system provides immediate audio and visual indication of possible leaks. Plus, the electric cylinders have less drag and spin more freely than hydraulic motors providing a sharp cut which leads to firmer and faster greens, exactly what Gavin is after. “Firm, true and fast greens is what we’re all after and the Toro TriFlex is helping us achieve this at Knole Park,” he confirms.  

Providing the advanced control Gavin mentioned is the machines’ Info Centre, which has an easily customised clip for different heights of cut as well as other operational settings to give complete machine control on cylinder speed, hours of function, system voltage for cylinders and diagnostic descriptions. It’s this that provides the advanced control that appealed to Gavin in the TriFlexes.  

But as Gavin goes on to say, it’s never just as simple as the machines: “A machine is often only as good as the backup that comes with it. We’re dealing direct with Reesink Turfcare for the first time and we’ve found that to be a great experience so far.” 

It seems opportune that Toro arrives back at Knole Park for the first time since the 1970s in the year that it hosted the Tillman Trophy, the tournament widely attributed to changing the face of amateur golf. We’re sure with Toro on side, Gavin and his greenkeeping team of six will change the challenge of the course for all its members.

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

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Apprenticeships At Leicester City

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Apprenticeships At Leicester City: Leicester City Football Club has become the latest in a length list of Premier League Football Clubs to choose Myerscough College as their apprenticeships delivery partner. 

 The implementation of the Apprenticeships Levy has seen the club invest heavily in the recruitment of new apprentices and also taken the chance to upskill existing staff to a higher level of competency. 

Apprenticeships At Leicester City

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with the team as they prepared the stadium pitch for an FA Cup fixture. As part of the day we also allowed Leah, Josh and Ryan the chance to explain why they chose an apprenticeship and what skills they are developing. 

As part of their apprenticeship Josh, Leah and Ryan will learn a wide range of skills, and rotate across sites also working at the Belvoir Drive training complex. This ensures their experiences are as varied as possible as they learn the complexities of the job. They’re supported with regular college tutor visits, technical workshops and access to a sophisticated e-portfolio and virtual learning environment, where they can log their training and complete any associated knowledge assignments. Myerscough has a proven track record in apprenticeship delivery and this blended approach has delivered significant success over the past decade. 

Grounds Manager at Leicester City, John Ledwidge, shares his vision for the award winning team, and the need to be at the forefront of learning, innovation and technology: “For us it’s always about a team effort. It’s vital that we maintain our playing surfaces to the highest standards possible and we embrace any innovation technologies that allow is to achieve this. Apprenticeships allow us the chance to recruit new workers into our team and to shape their training to our model of excellence. The Apprenticeships Levy has allowed us to now enroll seven members of our team onto apprenticeship programmes at level 2 and level 3. 

 ‘’We have also recently recruited three new team members straight onto apprenticeships. This is a significant investment from the club and allows us for succession planning and internal team development. Myerscough College come highly recommended and we look forward to seeing our apprentices develop. We have exciting plans for the future and hope our new apprentices play a big part in our future success.” 

 Employer Services Manager at Myerscough College shares his thoughts on recruiting apprentices: “We assist employers across the country to recruit and train apprentices. It’s fantastic that Leicester City have chosen us as their sportsturf apprenticeships provider and I am looking forward to seeing the journey the apprentices make as they develop in their new roles.  

 ‘’If any employers are unsure about Apprenticeships, or the recruitment process, then they can get in touch with our expert Employer Services Team who will support them every step of the way. This service is completely free of charge to all businesses choosing Myerscough College as their Apprenticeships provider.” 

For more information, visit: www.myerscough.ac.uk

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Koro Field Topmaker At Provo GC

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Koro Field Topmaker At Provo GC: Golf courses find their home in a variety of places, but Provo Golf Course, based in the Turks & Caicos Islands, is located on the edge of a 40-square mile island, which makes it one of the more unique locations, providing with it the unique challenges of Caribbean weather.

Whilst the thought of an endless summer brings golfers to the resort, the perpetual heat allows thatch to grow in vast quantities, leaving course superintendent, Tim Mack, seeking an alternative more effective machine than his current system, to remove thatch from his fairways and roughs.

Koro Field Topmaker At Provo GC

Online research and further examination in person at a GCSAA tradeshow culminated in the decision to use the KoroÒ FIELD TOPMAKERÒ (FTM) with UniverseÒ rotor, with a particular focus on removing thatch rather than removing the surface completely.

“Providenciales has an arid and hot climate. We have 365 days of growing weather (nothing goes dormant), which means we produce an ample amount of thatch,” Tim explains. “Also, weed and insect pressure are high due to no eradication from temperature changes.

“In other words, everything is a perennial, there are no annuals here. Some other unique challenges relate to being on a 40-square mile island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. We have no natural fresh water sources, so we utilize R.O. water – which is very expensive – blended with some well (brackish) and reclaimed water (brackish). Salt management is a major component of our management strategies.

“I think the Universe® rotor for the Koro® FTM® is a fantastic tool for thatch management, but currently, we are using the FTMÒ with Universe® rotor, for a turf conversion project, changing from Bermuda to Seashore Paspalum. After eradicating the existing turf with several pesticide applications, we were able to strip 30 acres (front 9 wall to wall) with the machine in 3 weeks, which we were very impressed by. We will use the same strategy for the back 9 next summer.”

Koro Field Topmaker At Provo GC

Despite the initial purpose of the machine being to remove thatch, Tim has used it on a number of other areas around the course, taking full advantage of what the patented Universe® Rotor and KORO® FTMÒ offer. In replacing his previous machine, he believes he now has much more powerful, efficient and cleaner end product, something that’s vital for surface hygiene in a continuous growing environment.

Using the Koro® to its full extent means with the 10mm Universe® blades, I have been able to strip the first 9 holes, and with the 3mm Universe® Finesse blades we will be going into future operations for verti-cutting fairways and larger tees a couple of times a year, as well as other plans.  It is a very versatile and well-built piece of equipment, and we are very happy that we chose to purchase a KoroÒ FIELDTOPMAKER® complete with Universe® rotor.

“We are very pleased with the efficiency and accuracy of the machine.  Also, Richard Campey and his team have provided great support.

For more information, visit: www.campeyturfcare.com

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New Makita Pressure Washers

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New Makita Pressure Washers: Makita has added two further pressure washers to the range which spans the 100 to 140 bar capacities.

The new Makita HW1200 model has a regular operating pressure of 100 bar with a maximum pressure capacity of 120 bar, and a maximum delivery rate of 420 litres per hour, whilst the Makita HW1300 with electrical 2-pressure settings, has regular operating pressure settings of 110 bar on Hi and 80 bar on Lo. A similar 450 litre per hour flow rate is available from the HW1300 which has a maximum operating pressure of 130 bar with delivery controlled by a front mounted rotary switch.  Both are powered by series motors for performance and reliability and are supplied with a 10m delivery hose and pressure adjustable spray lance. The HW1300 has an integrated hose reel.

These new Makita pressure washers feature a self-priming pump operation which means that they can be used with water supplied from a tank, or water butt, simply by immersing a self-suction supply hose (supplied separately) into the water source. The traditional mains water hose supply connection is conveniently located at the front of the washer.  These lightweight washers are quiet in operation, double insulated for safety, come complete with a convenient 5m power cord and can be used with water at up to 40°C.

New Makita Pressure Washers

For more news and product information about Makita UK please visit www.makitauk.com.  Follow us on Twitter @MakitaUK, Facebook.com/makitauk and google.com/+makitauk

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Vandal-Hit Bowls Club Set To Fold

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Vandal-Hit Bowls Club Set To Fold: Middleport Park Bowling club is to fold – ending its 108 years of existence.

The club, traditionally one of most successful in North Staffordshire, will play for the last time this year after members called time because of vandalism and also council costs.

Vandal-Hit Bowls Club Set To Fold

Middleport had been asked to pay around £2,500 to Stoke-on-Trent City Council to maintain the green.

An alternative was a self-management deal in which members would take on the responsibility for looking after the green themselves.

But they have reluctantly rejected that idea because of vandalism, including people playing football and golf on the green and riding bikes over it.

The club, founded in 1910, will play for this season at Clough Hall then cease to exist.

Chairman and treasurer Keith Williamson, aged 65, has been connected with the club since he was 13.

He said it was a difficult decision to call time on a club which was one of the best in the area in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s when they were regular winners of the Sentinel Cup.

However, he said the fee of around £2,500 was too much.

 He said: “That was the ballpark figure but they had said it would rise over time. We were offered self-management but there were the vandalism issues.

“But the problems started when the council first made the cuts and they got rid of the park rangers around 10 or 12 years ago.

“The main thing is football on the green but also people riding bikes on it. We have even been down there and people have been practicing golf shots on it.

“It is a problem that lots of parks are having now. There might be a gassy bank on the other side, but they prefer to play on the bowling green because it is flatter.”

Williamson said the council had offered the club a free mower and made them aware of grants they could apply for, but after careful consideration they decided it wasn’t feasible to carry on.

Now he and other members have cleared the pavilion as they reluctantly decided the club must fold.

He has thanked Clough Hall for making the team welcome for this year. Middleport have a strong connection with Clough Hall because their former captain Mick Harvey played there before joining Park in 1980 and skippering the club to major success. Mick died in 2014.

Williamson added: “It is a sad day, we are one of the best known and have been one of the most successful clubs in the area”

Middleport is one of several clubs potentially affected by council cutbacks.

The Sentinel reported in October that the council had also begun consulting with clubs at Anchor Road, Meir Hay; Beauford Street, Longton; Bucknall Park; Campbell Road, Stoke; Tunstall Park; Northwood Park; Smithpool Park, in Fenton; Burslem Park and Watson Road, in Trent Vale.

Councillor Anthony Munday, cabinet member for greener city, development and leisure, said: “We have met with all the bowling clubs in the city and offered them options and support to keep running.

“This has included a 50 per cent reduction in what they would pay to maintain the green for the first 12 months; advice on how to set up committees and access funding for example through the council’s Community Investment Fund, as well as the offer of free lawn mowers and training in how to use them. It’s disappointing that none of the options offered were acceptable to the club at Middleport Park and that they have taken the decision to wind-up.

“Bowling green maintenance is costly. It is labour intensive and requires a lot of specialised equipment and other materials. We understand the value of bowling in terms of social contact and health. However, the simple truth is that the number of people using some greens is falling far short of being able to justify the expense in the light of other more popular demands.

“We will continue to work with other groups who have expressed a desire to keep their club running and we hope to reach positive outcomes with as many as we can.”

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