The Grove invests in stars of the future

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The Grove invests in stars of the future: The Grove, Hertfordshire’s ultimate country escape, today announces two important promotions within its green-keeping team to continue its long-running heritage of developing the golf industry’s stars of the future.

Since opening in 2003 a host of young talent have crafted their skills at the Top 100-ranked venue, under the leadership of Golf Course and Estate Manager, Phillip Chiverton, who has been at the forefront of The Grove’s green-keeping operation for 20 years.

The Grove invests in stars of the future

The Grove invests in stars of the future

The latest green-keepers to rise through the ranks of the young team are 27-year-olds Sam Reid and Callum Herbst.

Sam is The Grove’s new Head Green-keeper, with immediate effect, and Callum is promoted to Deputy Head Green-keeper. Both joined The Grove in 2012, Herbst as an apprentice, and Reid as a casual worker, while studying at Buckinghamshire University.

Reid’s rise to Head Green-keeper status has seen him help prepare the championship course for The British Masters in 2016, achieve an R&A Greenkeeper Scholarship in 2018, and work with the course’s world-renowned architect, Kyle Phillips, during an extensive bunker redesign and rebuild project in 2020.

Herbst’s journey has included being a Toro Student Green-keeper of the Year finalist, along with work experience during the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in the USA, and at the French Open at Le Golf National.

Commenting on the promotions, Phillip Chiverton, said: “In Sam and Callum we have two certain agronomy leaders of tomorrow. The Grove has always invested in young talent and we have a rich history of coaching green-keepers through the early stages of their careers.”

A consistent development programme with scope for continual internal promotion has seen many of The Grove’s young stars go on to secure senior industry roles at other world-renowned golfing destinations, including Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, San Roque Club in Spain and Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE.

“While our day-to-day objectives always remain keeping The Grove in pristine condition all-year-round – something our customers consistently recognise us for – it is also important we offer the next generation of green-keeping stars a platform from which to succeed and prosper. Seeing young talent develop at The Grove and then go on to prosper in all corners of the globe is hugely rewarding.”

The Grove proudly covets its position as a premium open-to-all leisure facility and one of the UK’s Top 100 golf resorts, just 18 miles from central London.

It’s 18-hole parkland golf course, the only venue in the UK to have hosted a World Golf Championship event in 2006, won by Tiger Woods, continues to receive critical acclaim and was recently ranked within Europe’s Top 100 Modern Courses, by Golf World.

The World Golf Awards has also named recognised The Grove as ‘England’s Best Golf Hotel 2021’.

The Grove’s 18th-century Mansion houses 26 rooms, suites and lounges decorated with a 21st-century spin on vintage glamour. There’s also the thoroughly modern West Wing with a further 189 deluxe, superior and family rooms. Many of these rooms have balconies/terraces looking over the immaculate Formal Gardens.

For further information: www.thegrove.co.uk

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Sprayer training and safety focus runs high

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Sprayer training and safety focus runs high: Operator training and safety figured strongly throughout Saltex 2021 on the Hozelock-Exel stand, which featured Cooper Pegler and Berthoud knapsack and pressure professional sprayers.

In what proved a busy two-days at the NEC, following the show’s absence from the 2020 calendar, grounds professionals were eager to learn latest trends and innovations across the sector.

Sprayer training and safety focus runs high

Sprayer training and safety focus runs high

“Our cutaway sprayer training units are attracting keen interest from industry trainers looking to heighten awareness among those taking PA1 and PA6 certification,” reported Allan Wainwright, Hozelock’s UK National Account Manager.

Leading centres like Harper Adams University have adopted the cutaway sprayers as training aids, while training body LANTRA is soon to follow suit as demand grows for operators to know sprayers’ inner workings so they can improve maintenance regimes.

“Moves towards a sustainable, circular groundscare sector are sending messages to private and public sector contractors to improve sprayer lifetime expectancy by moving from a throwaway culture to a more sustainable one,” Allan added after the show.

Operator comfort and safety is also of growing concern among contractors and landscapers, given that operators often put in full-day shifts carrying considerable weight of liquid on their backs.

Berthoud knapsacks all include ergonomically designed upper body support to spread loading away from the shoulders to the waist, reducing risk of long-term postural and spinal distortion.

“Several landscape contractors asked us how they could adapt their existing shoulder-strap cylinder sprayers to redistribute upper body forces,” Allan said. “Clearly the sector is starting to take on board the importance of ergonomic design to longer-term operator health and safety.”

Key visitors during Saltex included Hozelock-Exel dealer Progreen and wholesalers Spindrift Sprayers, who carry a weight of expertise about the Cooper Pegler and Berthoud brands.

“We’re delighted to support our dealer network at the show by promoting two of the UK’s top professional sprayer brands,” Allan added.

www.cooper-pegler.com

www.berthoud.fr/en

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SAGE partners with Bio-Circle

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SAGE partners with Bio-Circle: Organisers of the Sports and Ground Expo are delighted to announce it has partnered with environmental surface technology specialists, Bio-Circle, and will run a Sustainable Solutions for Ground care summit at next year’s SAGE 2022 event.

Bio-Circle offer environmental solutions for the cleaning and maintenance of ground care equipment, in a sustainable manner, and with a much lower environmental impact compared to traditional cleaning methods. The company uses VOC-free chemicals that are designed to reduce costs for organisations and lower the environmental impact in comparison to high pressure water systems. Bio-Circle’s green credentials are supported via the new Green Code Sustainability Membership and ISO 14001.

SAGE partners with Bio-Circle

SAGE partners with Bio-Circle

SAGE 2022 is set to be the ‘biggest outdoor trade show for the sports and grounds maintenance industry’ and will take place at Three Counties Showground in Malvern on July 6-7 2022, after making its debut this year.

For the first time, it will hold a ‘Sustainable Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit’, which will hold a live panel event, with experts across the industry, more information to be released soon.

This is especially relevant to the sports and grounds care sector, as the English Football League (EFL) announced earlier this month a new league-wide scheme, that will help support all 72 clubs across the country to improve their environmental practices and operations. It will also provide a way for their ground staff to undertake the training to achieve accreditation by a new Green Code Scheme.

League Two Forest Green Rovers are leading by example and have been recognised by the United Nations and FIFA as the world’s greenest football club.

SAGE 2022 event manager Vicky Panniers said: “The deadline for becoming sustainable in the world of sports is now looming and our industry must now start to think of the steps they need to take to become carbon neutral and comply to the new legislation.

“SAGE is, therefore, delighted to be partnering with Bio-Circle, who are leading the way in demonstrating how businesses can lower their impact on the environment and take vital steps towards being sustainable.

“The EFL have 72 members, and, with our partners, we will be delivering live workshops at SAGE2022 to aid these members and anyone else who is looking at how they can become more sustainable for the future.

“We’re now actively supporting our partners within the sports and grounds maintenance world by delivering a resourceful environment where visitors can find out all they need to know directly from the experts at SAGE2022.” More information will be released soon.

The SAGE2022 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT offers 10% off any stand until 31/01/22 but space is going fast.

For more information, contact the team by email: team@sportsandgrounds.co.uk, by phone: +44 (0)1684 580101 or go to www.sportsandgrounds.co.uk today.

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X-WAY or the highway!

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X-WAY or the highway!: Bucks-based turf, topsoil & aggregates supplier, Springbridge Direct continues to invest in its truck fleet, taking one of the UK’s first new IVECO X-WAYs. Joining the new WAY range of heavy trucks, the IVECO X-WAY embodies the perfect crossing between comfortable on-road driving and off-road robustness for those last mile deliveries away from the tarmac.

A family-run business, Springbridge is one of the leading suppliers of turf in the south of England and currently run 19 heavy trucks, 18 of which are IVECO. Supplied by long-standing IVECO dealer, Northern Commercials in Hildenborough, this new vehicle is the first of its new-generation IVECOs to arrive, but notably, is slightly different to its normal 8×4 tipper-grabs

X-WAY or the highway!

X-WAY or the highway!

The on-road homologated AD350X46Y/PS ON has been decked out by Colliers Truck Bodies with a flat-bed and rear-mounted Palfinger PK.501 SLD5 crane, destined for work on the turf, pallet and bulk bag delivery arm of the business.

Until now, the company has relied on an artic and two 44t IVECO drawbar units for this, however the new truck enables much easier access to a wider variety of locations, both business and private. The 8x2x6 axle configuration, means that the rearmost steering axle can be pneumatically lifted, minimising wear on lighter runs, maximising payload on heavier jobs, yet affording the driver precision manoeuvrability despite its sizeable 6050mm wheelbase.

Powering the truck is IVECO’s 11.1-litre CURSOR 11, in this case supplying 460hp and 2,150Nm through the 12-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox. A hydraulic ZF NH/4C Power Take Off pump takes care of the auxiliary body equipment, while IVECO’s patented HI-SCR exhaust system deals with particulates without the need for high-temperature or time-wasting stationary forced filter regenerations.

Adding sophistication to the clean and simple white and black bodywork, the truck is fitted with the Premium Style Pack which brings chassis-mounted air horns, aluminium air tanks, an external sun visor and colour-coding to the IVECO X-WAY’s standard-fit steel-reinforced ‘hybrid’ front bumper. Elsewhere it features servo-assisted cab tilting, LED hazard beacons, rear cab windows, Alcoa Diamant alloy wheels and the well-received 7” touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, smartphone mirroring and TomTom LIVE truck-biased navigation.

As Springbridge Direct operates responsibly, and often within London, a FORS Gold accreditation mandates fitment of a full suite of safety equipment, therefore the new truck is fully complimented by under-run protection bars, illuminated cyclist warning boards, audible turn warnings, a side-scan system and 360-degree cameras.

“What brought us to the IVECO brand was the value for money, buying ex-Clancy Docwra Trakkers about 15 years ago. In 2016, we were after some brand-new trucks, and they introduced us to Andrew Smith at Northern Commercials who I’ve been dealing with since. I haven’t bought any new trucks from anyone else since,” commented Springbridge’s Operations Director, John Keating.
“Our latest IVECO X-WAY looks very smart and has a fantastic payload too, near-on 20-tonnes! Northern give a great level of service and offer very good back-up support.”

The company employs a five-year replacement strategy, with this and two more new IVECO X-WAYs due in March replacing a handful of 300,000km 65-plate Trakkers. Serving London and the home counties, Springbridge doesn’t have to cover a great deal of distance, however this policy maximises resale value, while ensuring that all vehicles meet the latest safety and emissions standards for the capital. Just as importantly though, they remain clean and shiny.

Commenting on the handover, Gareth Lumsdaine, IVECO UK Heavy Business-line Director said, “Taking the best of the new WAY range and adding in extra toughness, IVECO X-WAY makes for a comfortable, reliable and hard-working truck for operator and driver, whether they’re pounding smooth tarmac or mud-plugging across rutted construction sites. Springbridge have sampled its forefathers over many years now and we’re pleased that the lightweight but heavy-duty chassis is paying dividends already.”

Launched in 2021, as a tractor or rigid, IVECO X-WAY will provide the comfort, flexibility and reliability required in time-sensitive construction environments with an enormous range of chassis lengths, axle layouts and powerful CURSOR engines.

For further information about the IVECO X-WAY range, or to find your local dealer, visit www.iveco-dealership.co.uk

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GroundWOW® up for Innovation Award

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GroundWOW® up for Innovation Award: GroundWOW has been shortlisted for the Innovation Award in TheStadiumBusiness Awards 2021.

Launched in 2010, The StadiumBusiness Awards were the first industry awards for the stadium sector, by the stadium sector.

GroundWOW® up for Innovation Award

GroundWOW® up for Innovation Award

Ian Nuttall, Founder, TheStadiumBusiness said: “Now in their second decade, TheStadiumBusiness Awards continue to recognise leadership, innovation and achievement in the design, delivery and operation of sports and entertainment facilities globally.

“As our industry restarts and recovers post-pandemic, it’s vital that we look for inspiration and ideas from our colleagues around the world. Sports and entertainment businesses are now re-imagining and re-invigorating their guest experience – embracing technology, service, and creativity to deliver ever more magical moments.

“The world’s venues are the ‘memory factories’ of humanity and it is wonderful to see across all the finalists that our industry is alive with new ideas and new approaches. Venues cannot simply take fans for granted. Instead, we are seeing the industry’s best facilities continue to re-invent their offer and enhance the fan experience, connect more deeply with their communities and tackle their sustainability obligations.”

GroundWOW® up for Innovation Award

GroundWOW® up for Innovation Award

“For 2021 we have an amazing shortlist of finalists across the categories. Our expert Judging Panel will have its work cut out determining a single winner in each category ahead of our Winners’ Party in Manchester on 30 November. Meanwhile, our congratulations to all TheStadiumBusiness Awards 2021 finalists for making the cut – they are all winners and champions for our industry.”

GroundWOW’s Chief Commercial Officer, David Pritchard commented: “We are beyond thrilled for GroundWOW to be recognised with a nomination in the Innovation category of TheStadiumBusiness Awards. To be nominated by the industry at such a powerful event for the industry and in a forum that truly understands what innovation means and requires is an enormous validation of our efforts to this point”.

TheStadiumBusiness Summit takes place from November 30th to December 1st 2021.

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