Reesink adds refresher training for 2020

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Reesink adds refresher training for 2020: Reesink Turfcare has added 12 practical refresher courses to its machinery and equipment training offering for 2020.

These one day operational and service courses are for those who need the latest knowledge or have previously completed the relevant two-day course, but need to refresh their skills to ensure they remain fully up to date, as well as learning about any new developments that are related to the job they do.

Reesink adds refresher training for 2020

There are 12 refresher courses in total. Six are provided by LANTRA, the leading body for land-based and environmental training, and relate to operational aspects of turfcare machinery maintenance, such as equipment installation training, the safe use of ride on mowers, compact tractor driving, the safe use of pesticides and the sprayers and handheld applicators used in administering these chemicals.

Then, there are another six manufacturer-backed training days from Reesink and Toro in relation to Toro diagnostics and info centre training, plus training on the customer’s choice of any greens, fairway, rotary, cylinder or flail mower or utility vehicle.

Neil Adams, head of turfcare training at Reesink, says: “We’ve introduced these refresher courses based on what our customers are telling us they want – a reminder of the key points and skill set update. They are incredibly good value, being done on either a one-to-one basis or as a group if there’s more than one operative requiring the course. All the courses are delivered by nationally quality assured trainers and assessors and include a mixture of practical and theory work.”

These new refresher courses join the 11 already offered by Reesink and bring the full range to a total of 23. It is without question says Neil the biggest selection from a turfcare machinery and equipment distributor in the country.

“We are incredibly proud of the extensive range we offer our customers, it makes us stand out from the crowd by being able to offer so much more value. There’s something to suit everybody, at every level, whether you work in the golf and fine turf sector, sports or grounds sectors.

“Our range of training courses demonstrates our belief in continuously improving standards in the industry. We aim to make training convenient with some courses delivered at the trainees’ working premises, too, using familiar equipment in a familiar environment. This set-up means it could not be easier for customers to develop and invest in their employees.”

Further information such as dates and details on how to book, plus all the other courses available which range from air-cooled engines and basic electrics and hydraulics, can be found at reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Club Car extend PGA partnership

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Club Car extend PGA partnership: Club Car, a global leader in small-wheel, zero-emissions electric vehicles, today announced a four-year extension to its long-standing partnership with The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA).

Adding to a partnership that has already been a huge success for over 20 years, Club Car and The PGA will continue to collaborate on a wide range of important initiatives that will deliver significant value to PGA Members and the wider game of golf.

Club Car extend PGA partnership

Marco Natale, Vice President EMEA at Club Car, commented: “We continue to enjoy a richly-rewarding relationship with The PGA, and strongly value our status as a long-standing PGA Partner. Club Car’s objectives follow a similar path to those of The PGA in that we also put the development and enjoyment of the game at the heart of our business.

“Its 8,000 members are a vital component to the success of the golf industry, supporting the games of millions of golfers in 80 countries, and we look forward to playing our part in assisting The PGA’s great work through this exclusive partnership.”

The PGA’s vision for the future is built on the foundations of the past and focuses on the firm belief that the PGA Professional will always be central to the growth and success of the global game of golf.

Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive of The Professional Golfers’ Association, added: “The longevity of our relationship alone is testament to how successfully our two organisations continue to collaborate together. This new agreement will forge even closer ties, and we look forward to working with the whole of the Club Car family, delivering insights, initiative and projects at the heart of the game.”

This partnership extension will also open up the opportunity for Club Car to further develop relationships with other PGA Partners and PGA Branded Properties through annual networking and business events.

For more information about The PGA, visit: https://www.pga.info

For more information about Club Car, visit: https://www.clubcar.com

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First school grounds seminar a success

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First school grounds seminar a success: A recent school grounds seminar held at Charterhouse in Surrey has been hailed a huge success by all who attended.

The event attracted over 50 delegates from all levels as several topical issues were explored and discussed. Supported by prominent suppliers and manufacturers in the industry – ICL, Limagrain UK, Syngenta UK and Charterhouse Turf Machinery – attendees had the opportunity to find out more about key subjects such as fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides, grass seed and aeration.

First school grounds seminar a success

At a time where the industry is witnessing increasing pressure on pesticide usage and when registrations are getting tighter, the presentation by Glenn Kirby, Syngenta’s Technical Manager for the UK Turf & Landscape, was well received. From this seminar, attendees became more knowledgeable on how to get the best out of their products and also gained a greater understanding of fungicide timings, correct calibration and sprayer set-up, and how to choose the correct nozzles.

Sam Horner, Amenity Seed Specialist from Limagrain UK, offered a fantastic insight into the thought process behind the development of a grass seed mixture. From initial breeding through to going to a customer, attendees received first-hand information on characteristics of the plant, growing, harvesting, germination testing, creating a mix, percentages and the trials which go into producing a final product.

Henry Bechelet, ICL Technical Sales Manager UK & Ireland, focussed on new regulations for fertilizers which are set to commence in 2022. There has been a lot of uncertainty over the new forthcoming legislation and Henry was on hand to answer some all-too common questions and clarify the situation.

Stepping into the stunning school grounds, delegates then had the opportunity to see a number of outdoor product demonstrations from Charterhouse Turf Machinery. Attendees found out how to relieve compaction and improve drainage with the OxyShot air-injection unit, the Verti-Quake® and the Verti-Drain®. In particular, representatives from Charterhouse Turf Machinery focussed on the three styles of aeration – deep-tine aeration, linear aeration and high-pressure aeration.

The idea for this unique new event was born following discussions between a group of grounds managers from schools – Charterhouse, Whitgift, St Paul’s, Christ’s Hospital, Cranleigh, Reed’s, The Royal Grammar School (RGS), New Hall and Harrow.

Host for the day Lee Marshallsay from Charterhouse, provided an insight into how the seminar came to fruition: “After going to various events and exhibitions over the years we felt that many of the seminars were mainly aimed at managers or those in a senior position.

Ultimately, we are a group of grounds managers that meet up to talk about the industry because we want to help. We have taken something by the scruff of the neck and tried to drive something which is specifically for our sector.”

Echoing Lee was Daniel Ratling from Whitgift School, who said: “We wanted a training day that was going to be more targeted at every member of staff and give them information that would enthuse them and help them in their every-day work. A big part of that is integrating and mixing with people from other schools and this is not something that you are often able to do.”

Russel King, from The Royal Grammar School, felt that the event was a huge morale boost for his team: “We wanted our team to know that some of the issues they are facing are not just isolated to their specific grounds and that it could be perhaps a common problem for everyone. Today has been great because they have received advice about how other schools are approaching the issues and it has really boosted their morale.”

“Our staff have not been to anything like this before,” claimed James Pope from St Paul’s. “We all agreed that this was at a perfect time being half-term and my staff have been able to speak to professionals that they might not usually get the chance to speak to. I think we have all taken some great ideas away from this event.”

“It’s been a great first event and I’m confident that we can progress it in the future,” added host Lee. “I think this is something that could happen once a year and in order to grow we will debrief and identify what delegates would like to see in the future.”

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The quietest ride-on greensmower

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The quietest ride-on greensmower yet: Hybrid, it’s the buzzword of the times with customers demanding cleaner, greener mowing options and Toro has responded to that demand by creating the Greensmaster eTriFlex 3360, the quietest ride-on greensmower yet.

Another fine example of innovative Toro technology, the Greensmaster eTriFlex 3360 is the new greensmower, developed specifically with customer needs in mind. Reducing noise, minimising impact on the environment and with no hydraulics, it says goodbye to leaks while never compromising on quality of cut.

The quietest ride-on greensmower yet

This clever ride-on utilises all-electric components for traction, steering, lifting and cutting, alongside a proven Kawasaki twin cylinder 14hp air-cooled engine with battery assist technology and a reduced speed of 2400rpm, shrouded in venting. It’s this design that ensures perceived bystander noise level is significantly reduced, making it the perfect greensmower for courses with nearby residents. As Toro’s quietest ride-on greensmower yet, work can start earlier while complying with noise regulations, meaning greens can be ready earlier which could enhance revenue by allowing for earlier tee times.

As you’d expect from Toro, cutting capabilities are only ever improved upon. In the eTriFlex 3360 the suspension system maintains a full flotation range to prevent gouging or scalping when going over undulations and Toro’s proven Flex technology allows the cutting units to pivot around the centre of the front roller to prevent side-to-side scrubbing. Add to this DPA cutting units, the most advanced cutting units in the industry, and you have a mower which floats freely over any terrain with superior contour-following and substantially improves both the aesthetics and playability of the greens.

Jeff Anguige, national sales manager at Reesink Turfcare, the sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf equipment, says: “It’s easy to see why Toro is calling the Greensmaster eTriFlex the most advanced riding greensmower ever, bringing a new standard in mowing greens. The technology presented in this machine, particularly the hybrid technology, is a prime example of Toro’s ability to deliver products that meet customer needs perfectly. The reduced noise brings with it a host of benefits while still maintaining what makes Toro machines so unique – a superior quality of cut. It’s truly a must-have machine.”

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Jacobsen at The Lensbury

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Jacobsen the complete package for The Lensbury: Multipurpose venues need quality, versatile and reliable mowers. And that’s why The Lensbury opted for the Jacobsen TR320 and GP400.

The four-star club, hotel and conference centre sits on the banks of the River Thames in Teddington, London, and hosts international rugby teams as well as professional club sides. There are also six grass tennis courts and ornamental gardens in the grounds of the hotel, all of which are kept to an impeccable standard by head of grounds and gardens, Peter Craig, and his team.

Jacobsen the complete package for The Lensbury

The rugby pitches are an essential part of The Lensbury. They attract the world’s best and need to look and play to their standards, so when the decision was made to get a new mower, Peter decided to trial every machine at his disposal before going for the TR320.

“I took a long time choosing the rugby mower because those pitches are the priority here from a turf management point of view, and that’s why we tried virtually everything before we made a choice,” Peter explained. “The quality of cut on the TR320 is good as is the adjustment of cut, and I’m glad that I made the choice I did.

“Price is obviously important, and the TR320 was competitive in that area. I looked at the Jacobsen and all the main mower brands. We were looking at all of the usual criteria, the quality of cut, the range of cut, the comfort, the noise and the width of the machine. The size of the boxes was another aspect I looked at because I wanted the biggest boxes possible to reduce the amount of time spent emptying them.

“Those were the main things along with the ease of use because we wanted it to be operator friendly. The back-up service is obviously a big part of it as well, and I’d never bought a Jacobsen before, so I didn’t know what it was like. When we’ve needed them, parts have arrived very quickly, and the service from Ernest Doe has been excellent.”

The TR320 is the perfect choice for The Lensbury because of its quality of cut, operator comfort and vertically folding units. The 1.83m cutting width can be reduced to a 1.63m transport width, with the reels lifting to a vertical position to make driving around tight areas, such as ornamental gardens, simple.

Although the pitches are the priority, the ornamental gardens and grass tennis courts are also paid close attention. While Peter’s mower criteria for this area was similar in terms of quality of cut and productivity, the need for a machine that could handle attachments was paramount for other maintenance.

For this, the GP400 was his mower of choice. It gets used to cut the ornamental lawns during the cutting season and for verti-cutting the tennis courts during the season, at the end of the season and during winter. Peter has high praise for the swing-out centre reel for making a “massive difference” when it comes to maintenance, and the ‘great’ quality of cut.

That great quality of cut comes from the TrueSet cutting units that allow operators to easily adjust the mower to ensure it has the optimum reel to bedknife setting, giving the perfect cut every time.

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