Education City & John Deere deliver quality

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Education City & John Deere deliver quality: The 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in March moved across the Qatari capital for the first time in its 23-year history to Education City Golf Club.

As a partner and equipment supplier, John Deere brought key customers to this prestigious event in order to review course maintenance solutions and performance under unique climatic and championship conditions.

Education City & John Deere deliver quality

Education City & John Deere deliver quality

Designed by two-time Masters Champion José María Olazábal, the venue comprises 33 holes split into three courses of 18, nine and six holes. The golf club also sits in the noticeable shadow of Education City Stadium, one of the host venues for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Education City also includes a state-of-the-art learning and practice facility housed in the venue’s Centre of Excellence and is at the heart of Qatar’s vision to grow the game in the Middle Eastern country.

John Deere was initially chosen as the club’s preferred equipment supplier when it opened in 2018 and became the Official Golf Course and Turf Maintenance Machinery partner. The John Deere brand has a long association with professional golf and is an official PGA Tour and Ladies European Tour supplier.

The Education City course is fully equipped with a comprehensive range of John Deere machinery, including the latest E-Cut hybrid electric greens and fairway mower technology. The local John Deere dealer, Progressive Trading, has supported the golf course throughout the partnership with machine selection and set-up, to ensure that the entire fleet delivers a first-class, quality finish to the playing surfaces.

During the 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, John Deere and Progressive Trading were able to invite key customers from diverse countries to visit the venue and meet the greenkeeping team to exchange information about local challenges.

“Such an event is a great opportunity for customers to experience turf management from a new perspective, in a different part of the world with different challenges such as high temperatures,” said Carlos Aragones, John Deere’s Manager Sales & Marketing, Golf & Turf Europe, North Africa, Near & Middle East and CIS.

“All this was represented at Education City Golf Club’s state-of-the-art venue. My sincere congratulations go to the event management and greenkeeping team for the outstanding quality of presentation and the tournament’s success.”

Education City General Manager Michael Braidwood added: “Our guests were particularly impressed by the facilities and extremely high standards of course maintenance. They also appreciated how Education City Golf Club organised and delivered a very successful championship tournament, while supporting the continued growth of the game of golf in the Middle East.”

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A spotlight on Martyn Parrish

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A spotlight on Martyn Parrish: Prior to the launch of Agrovista Amenity, Martyn Parrish was a technical area sales manager for Maxwell Amenity. He had been in the role for two years before the acquisition.    

“We’ve become one of the largest companies in the sector, and are able to support the industry and create something very special,” he said. “Merging two companies of that size is no easy task but I have been extremely impressed with the work that has been done. I feel proud to be working for this company.”

A spotlight on Martyn Parrish

A spotlight on Martyn Parrish

Martyn has spent most of his career in greenkeeping and started working at his local golf club at the age of 16. During his time as a greenkeeper, he completed his foundation degree in Sportsturf Management at Myerscough College and participated in the Ohio State Programme on a 12-month internship in which he worked on a Jack Nicklaus course construction and a grow-in in Texas – something which he pinpoints as a career highlight.

Before moving to Agrovista Amenity, Martyn was tempted away from golf for six years working as a grounds manager on an ambitious landscape construction project of a 400 acre site in Henley on Thames. Commenting on this role, Martyn claims that it was “extremely challenging but ultimately a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

He admits that moving into sales was a transition which took some time adjusting to. However, in the past three years Martyn has built up an impressive portfolio of clients and now looks after an area spanning from Berkshire across to Essex and up to Northampton.

“The commercial side of the industry was completely new to me,” he said. “I have some great colleagues that helped me a lot during my early days. With my background, I felt most comfortable in the golf sector to start with, however I was very conscious to get in there and experience all parts of the sportsturf and amenity industry. Sometimes you can get locked behind your own gate and you only see what is behind it.

“I quickly learnt not to be afraid of my weaknesses – the more you talk, the more you interact with people and the more you immerse yourself in education – the more you will learn about the parts of the industry that you didn’t know as well.

“I now have at least one customer that covers every area in sportsturf and amenity and can often have five visits a day that are radically different. My first visit might be a golf club followed by a local authority, then I might well move on to a football ground or a cricket ground and then visit a school in the afternoon.

“There are so many great people in the industry, and I love interacting with all the different people from the various facilities and sectors – it is the best part of my job.”

While Martyn is excelling in his current role, he admits that it is not without its challenges.

A spotlight on Martyn Parrish

A spotlight on Martyn Parrish

“The changes in legislation are probably the biggest obstacle to overcome,” he said. “It has changed the way we manage surfaces and it will continue to do so. The loss of products and the sustainable use of resources have been difficult. You have to change the way you think and the way you approach your job, but fortunately we have some amazing people in this industry that are creative and exceptionally good at overcoming problems.”

With the acquisition bringing together two of the most experienced and progressive teams in the amenity turf market, Martyn believes that Agrovista Amenity is now well placed to be at the forefront of these creative solutions.

“In terms of research and development, I feel we are in pole position,” he said. “The company is now able to lead the way in terms of introducing new ideas, new products and proven solutions to the market. We can also distribute these solutions and our products far and wide.

“Previously we only had ten people on the road – now there are well over 40 and that will continue to evolve.”

Outside of work, Martyn is recently married and admits to being addicted to sports and keeping fit. As well as playing football and golf regularly, he has completed three Iron Man races across Europe and has represented Great Britain in the World Triathlon Grand Finals.

For more information, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity.

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JCB leads the way

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JCB leads the way: JCB has developed the construction industry’s first ever hydrogen powered excavator as it continues to lead the sector on zero and low carbon technologies, the company announced today.

The 20-tonne 220X excavator powered by a hydrogen fuel cell has been undergoing rigorous testing at JCB’s quarry proving grounds for more than 12 months. The exciting development means JCB is the first construction equipment company in the world to unveil a working prototype of an excavator powered by hydrogen.

JCB leads the way

JCB leads the way

JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said: “The development of the first hydrogen fuelled excavator is very exciting as we strive towards a zero carbon world. In the coming months, JCB will continue to develop and refine this technology with advanced testing of our prototype machine and we will continue to be at the forefront of technologies designed to build a zero carbon future.”

Lord Bamford’s son Jo Bamford spent 14 years at JCB before moving into the hydrogen sector, setting up Ryse Hydrogen and then buying Northern Ireland bus giant Wrightbus. He has won contracts to supply the world’s first hydrogen double-decker to cities such as London and Aberdeen.

Jo added: “I truly believe hydrogen is the UK’s best opportunity to build a world-leading industry which creates UK jobs, cuts emissions and is the envy of the globe.”

Power for JCB’s prototype excavator is generated by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to create the energy needed to run electric motors. The only emission from the exhaust is water.

The development comes after JCB made manufacturing history last year by going into full production with the construction industry’s first fully electric mini excavator, the 19C-1E. JCB has also extended electric technology to its innovative Teletruk telescopic forklift range with the launch of an electric model, the JCB 30-19E.

Through constant innovation and design improvements, JCB has also been leading the way on clean diesel technology to meet Stage V EU emissions regulations and has almost eradicated the most harmful emissions from its latest range of diesel engines. Nitrous Oxide (NOx) is down 97%, soot particulates down by 98% and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions down by almost half.

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Government must recognise amenity management

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Government must recognise amenity management: Speaking recently, the Chairman of the Amenity Forum, Professor John Moverley OBE, sought proper recognition by all sectors of government and opposition parties of the importance of amenity management.

He said ‘’What happens in amenity management impacts on everyone in the UK every day ensuring clean, healthy and sustainable amenity and sports surfaces fit for purpose. The current health crisis has brought to the fore just how important this work is and, throughout the lockdown, staff engaged in the sector have continued to ensure safe, clean streets and pavements, essential transport networks, parks safe for use and more. Amenity can often gain the status of a forgotten industry but it is essential and will be continue to be key to recovery over the months ahead’’

Government must recognise amenity management

Government must recognise amenity management

Defra are currently undertaking a review of the National Action Plan which sets regulations and targets for weed, pest and disease management in a professional setting. This work was previously led by a department within HSE. John emphasises that this increases the need for our voice to be heard as many new people are engaged in the process. John went on to say ‘’We have welcomed engagement in a number of consultations with Defra recently and will continue to provide active support. We recognise that often the focus is on agriculture but amenity is an essential element in all of this. Amenity management does not just happen but is undertaken by trained professionals using integrated approaches making use of all tools available to produce optimum results – safe, healthy, environmentally responsible and fit for purpose’’

The Forum is urging all engaged in the sector to get involved, speak to their MPs, councillors and other key stakeholders and to do it now.

John said ‘’The Forum has worked closely with all national governments over the last 10 years and is proud of its record both in helping achieve targets set and bringing the sector together to meet national objectives. The sector undertakes an essential role and is vital to the running of the nations of the UK’’

The Forum is holding its annual conference on October 15th in Northamptonshire where the theme will be ‘’Planning for the Future’’ The event will also be open to online delegates. We are pleased to confirm that an address will be included from a senior government representative. For further information on how to book or for more information, contact Admin@amenityforum.net

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