St George’s Park chooses Dennis E-Series

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St George’s Park chooses Dennis E-Series: Andy Gray, Head of Grounds and Estates at St. George’s Park, believes that Dennis Mowers got everything absolutely right in producing its new range of battery-powered mowers – the E-Series.

Built in 2012 and set in 330-acres of stunning Staffordshire countryside, St. George’s Park is the home of England’s national football teams. Overseeing a team of fourteen members of staff, Andy Gray is the man responsible for the upkeep of all the pitches and landscaped areas.

St George’s Park chooses Dennis E-Series

St George’s Park chooses Dennis E-Series

Andy joined 21 months ago from Southampton FC, where he had responsibility for St. Mary’s Stadium and the Staplewood training campus. Throughout his tenure, both were highly regarded as outstanding football facilities, and he admits there were not many jobs to tempt him away from Southampton FC.

“I was never actively looking to leave Southampton FC,” he said. “However, I always saw the position at St George’s Park as one of the top jobs in this industry, so when I saw it available, I thought it would be good to prove myself somewhere else.”

Once settled into the position Andy felt the time had come to start exploring the idea of introducing battery-powered mowers.

“There were a number of reasons for wanting to go down the electric route,” he said. “The real motive though was for employee welfare in terms of noise and vibrations. There were also the emissions to consider, as well as the environmental impact, the sustainability, and the rising cost of fuel.”

As a long-term user of Dennis Mowers, Andy was quite certain on what brand of battery-powered mowers he wanted.

“I have used the Dennis G860 cylinder mowers since 2001 and when I moved here there was already a fleet of nine G860’s and four Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers. I felt it was a no-brainer to stay with Dennis.”

Leaving no stone unturned, Dennis Mowers spent three years working with carefully selected partners to develop a range of quality battery-powered equipment befitting of the Dennis badge. The aim was to provide a reliable and long-lasting solution with the ultimate performance that helps professionals meet sustainability and environmental initiatives, reduce carbon footprint, emissions, running costs and noise without any range anxiety.

“It was obvious Dennis took their time to do their homework, due diligence, and all the testing to make sure they got it absolutely right. This was really positive from Dennis – they made sure they were selling the finished article.”

Andy chose to purchase two Dennis ES-860 cylinder mowers from the ES range.

This 34” battery powered turf management system delivers maximum versatility and the range of 13 interchangeable cassette options provide a solution to many day-to-day maintenance tasks such as cutting, scarifying, brushing, sorrel rolling, and verticutting.

Furthermore, traditional G860 cassettes will also fit the ES-860, meaning that customers will not have to purchase additional cassettes.

A robust LCD keypad screen is an integral feature of the handlebar console providing the operator with a multitude of information options including speed, clip rate, service checks, lifetime running reports and battery information.

“We use them daily in the same way we use the G860’s, whether it be for cutting, brushing or verticutting. Battery range is so important because if you are over the far side of the site and you’ve got two or three pitches to cut, then it is imperative that it lasts. The ES-860’s haven’t run out on us yet.

“They have also come in handy when the England senior team are here,” Andy continued. “Media activities take place on the indoor pitch which is right next to the senior team’s training pitch. We would always be preparing the pitch for their next training session and would be constantly asked to stop because the mowers were making too much noise. With the ES-860’s, we no longer have that problem.

“As a company, Dennis is fantastic – the factory is nearby and the service, backup and parts department have always been second to none.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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Future of greenkeeping in safe hands

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Future of greenkeeping in safe hands: Toro, Reesink Turfcare and the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), have revealed the finalists of their prestigious annual awards, which seek to uncover the UK’s leading student greenkeepers.

Each year the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards enable BIGGA, the UK’s only membership association for golf greenkeepers, to work alongside turf maintenance equipment manufacturer Toro and distributor Reesink Turfcare to celebrate the next generation of talented and dedicated greenkeepers.

Future of greenkeeping in safe hands

Future of greenkeeping in safe hands

A record 54 nominees from across the United Kingdom were put forward by educators, course managers and head greenkeepers and other mentors. From those candidates, a final 12 have been chosen to contest the grand finals this September.

For the first time, the finals of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year will take place at Goodwood, the historic sporting venue located in West Sussex. The awards event will take place a week before the estate hosts Goodwood Revival, the famous weekend of classic racing. Goodwood is also home to the Downs Course, described by Justin Rose as a “truly inspirational” place to play golf.

September’s event will be the 33rd staging of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards and just the sixth time the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award, open to greenkeepers aged 21 or under, will take place. To be eligible to take part, candidates must be registered on a qualifying greenkeeping qualification and must be nominated by their course manager or college tutor.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

  • Andrew Bate, Hesketh Golf Club
  • Tom Bromfield, Trentham Golf Club
  • James Gaskell, Ripon City Golf Club
  • Abi Laker, Frilford Heath Golf Club
  • Andrew Ritchie, St Andrews Links
  • John Thornton, Hellidon Lakes Golf and Country Club

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

  • Jake Beech, Newcastle-under-Lyme Golf Club
  • Alfie Brookes, Gathurst Golf Club
  • Luke Charnley, Royal Liverpool Golf Club
  • Peter Pattenden, Carden Park Golf Club
  • James Stratford, Broome Manor Golf Club
  • Freddie Williams, Dudsbury Golf Club

More information about the finalists is available here.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner will receive: enrolment in the 10-week University of Massachusetts Winter Turf School; a two-week expenses-paid placement at Adare Manor, venue of The 2027 Ryder Cup; an all expenses paid trip to the GCSAA Conference and Show in Florida; and a visit to Toro Corporate HQ, R&D Centre and Equipment Operations in Wisconsin.

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner will receive: a two-week work placement at Vidauban Golf Club in France; a five-night trip to Continue to Learn at BTME including four days of education; and a gift voucher for Toro Training.

The runners-up and endorsers of the winners will also receive various prizes.

BIGGA Learning and Development Executive Deb Burnett said: “Each year the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards gain a little more prestige, as previous finalists go on to achieve wonderful things in their careers. I’m delighted that more student greenkeepers than ever before participated in the nomination process and all should be proud of how they performed during the regional interview stage.

“The 12 finalists are very worthy of their spot and I can’t wait to watch them overcome the challenges we set for them at glorious Goodwood this autumn. My thanks go to Toro and Reesink Turfcare for their continued support of this wonderful initiative.”

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Sustainability issues at the heart of Learning LIVE

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Sustainability issues at the heart of Learning LIVE: In the month that saw the UK climate reach unprecedented levels of 40°C for the first time on record, the Grounds Management Association (GMA) is highlighting the need to place sustainability and environmental issues at the heart of the grounds maintenance sector’s thinking – and at the heart of SALTEX’s Learning LIVE sessions. 

GMA Chief Executive, Geoff Webb said: “Those managing and maintaining sports turf and green spaces are already having to deal with the impact of climate change and industry suppliers are doing their best to innovate and help grounds people to minimise the impact of droughts and floods.

Sustainability issues at the heart of Learning LIVE

Sustainability issues at the heart of Learning LIVE

“Extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent, and we need to continue to educate grounds staff and plan now to ensure that as a sector, we are equipped to deal with what lies ahead.”

Announcing speakers for Europe’s leading sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition, SALTEX, which is free to attend and organised by the GMA, Geoff Webb explains the value of attending the show’s Learning LIVE sessions.

“Learning LIVE has been designed to provide support, insight, and real solutions to key industry issues, including those relating to sustainability and the environment and we are delighted to be confirming a growing line-up of impressive expert speakers.”

A presentation not to missed will be one from Tony Hanson managing director, Environmental Solutions International and Robin Price, director of quality and environment at Anglian Water. Geoff says: “Their paper on ‘Reducing the impact of future water restrictions on golf and sports turf’ is a timely subject as we deal with the results of climate change and approach drought restrictions in this country. Tony and Robin will look at the implications of temporary use bans and changes in water abstraction rulings, and how this will prevent turf irrigation in 2023 and the ways to implement water resilience practices.”

Tony Hanson explains the importance of this subject to the industry: “Due to climate change, population growth, and historically high personal consumption, there is simply not enough water available in the UK without action – the water sector will have to use demand management to ensure public supply. Turf irrigation must simply become less dependent on mains or direct irrigation abstraction.

“The Water Resilience Plan has been designed to guide users on what they

need to do and keep them informed of water industry funded seminars and workshops. If you irrigate turf you will need to review alternative water sources for irrigation, create water storage on site – water you control and can use in a drought to cover at least 21 days and review and assess your irrigation management and system.  I look forward to discussing all these elements at SALTEX.”

The SALTEX 2022 Learning LIVE schedule this year has been extended to over 30 sessions, with additional papers attacking the key issues for the grounds care industry of pay, career development, how to negotiate in the workplace and how to find out about the millions of pounds of grant funding available from sports clubs.

More information about the SALTEX 2022 Learning LIVE programme can be found on the event’s website at www.saltex.org.uk/learning-live. Free visitor registration is now open. Visit saltex.org.uk or register here.

Alongside the Learning LIVE programme visitors to SALTEX 2022 will be able to see over 400 industry brands in one place – all lining up the best products on offer for today’s growing needs. It also provides visitors with a great opportunity to network with industry colleagues and build new business relationships.

The show takes place at the conveniently central Birmingham NEC on 2-3 November.

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Penwortham GC opts for Wiedenmann GXi8 HD

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Penwortham GC opts for Wiedenmann GXi8 HD: A busy Lancashire Golf Club which wants to target excess thatch on fairways and rough has chosen a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD deep aerator.

Preston’s Penwortham GC is a fine parkland course, situated on the banks of the River Ribble. The northwest club is part of the prestigious Classic Lancashire Tour. It has an active year-round membership and a full-time greenkeeping team of five.

Penwortham GC opts for Wiedenmann GXi8 HD

Penwortham GC opts for Wiedenmann GXi8 HD

Head Greenkeeper, Steve Hemsley, has been in post since June 2021, and already is starting to tick off key projects on his list.

“Ours is quite a clay-based site, relatively flat and reasonably wet.  The recently established USGA greens are doing well. Elsewhere, fairways and roughs are just a little too thatchy, so we needed to develop a regular aeration programme. We brought contractors in last winter, but it made sense to have a machine of our own,” said Steve Hemsley

Following a successful demo with local Wiedenmann UK dealer, Balmers GM at Burnley, the club’s machine arrived at the end of April.  Wiedemann’s lead demonstrator, Andy Kerr, along with Balmers’ salesperson, Ben Cooke, returned to give a thorough session of induction training.

“Its first task, early May was to spike the fairways and some choice areas of rough with 20 mm diameter tines,” continued Steve.  “Our fairways aren’t huge but with a 1.8 m wide machine we easily got finished in around 2 ½ days. When the contractor did the fairways, they went to 150 mm without issue, so with the new machine we targeted around 175 mm, getting more air into the profile and decompacting the surface underneath.  Ideally, we’ll go again in September and, conditions allowing, during the winter again, so three times yearly.

“I had the GXi8 at my previous club, Bolton Old Links GC, so was aware how much time we would save compared to the long-serving machine we retired. The shock absorption and the speed set it apart. The spring systems mean no shock is delivered to the tractor or the operator, so it is an entirely smooth operation. Speed for me though is the biggest thing. It’s just easy to set up and go, just much less time out on the course interrupting play.”

Penwortham’s greens also had deep aeration in May to encourage deeper rooting. “After the fairways, we switched to 8 mm needle tines to do all greens. I’ve renovations booked in for mid-August so they will be done again then, but the priority is elsewhere in the course.

“During Autumn, with 20 mm tines we’ll get back to the spiking the fairways to break up the surface underneath. Then we’ll target the roughs and finally the fairways again in winter when conditions allow.”

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North Berwick takes care with Toro

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North Berwick takes care with Toro: With the order of a full fleet of Toro equipment including three key all-electric mowers, North Berwick Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland, didn’t have to choose between caring more for its putter than its puffins: now it can do both.

Near the largest puffin colony on the east coast of Britain, North Berwick Golf Club has environmental and noise pollution factors to consider highly in its machinery choices.

North Berwick takes care with Toro

North Berwick takes care with Toro

Course manager Darren MacLaughlan, who has been using and recommending the brand for the best part of 20 years, explains: “North Berwick has been a GEO certified course since 2015 and is located on some of the finest links terrain in the world. With that comes a responsibility to the site ensuring we are operating in the most sustainable manner possible.

“We are recognised as the 13th oldest golf club in the world and only at St Andrews has golf been played continuously over the same stretch of land. While it is important to preserve our rich history, we had to move forward with machinery and this has started with the introduction of both hybrid and electric technology.”

Toro has led the way in the turfcare electric machinery revolution and Darren opted for two Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 riding greensmowers and a Greensmaster eFlex 1021 pedestrian mower.

“There are multiple reasons we opted for electric technology,” says Darren. “Our firm commitment to lower emissions in line with our GEO status and the quietness of their operation, which allows us to start work early in the morning without disturbing neighbours. Then there’s the reduction in fuel costs, which, with fuel prices as they are, is a huge consideration.

“And while we did not factor this in before the purchase, these machines have actually helped the mental health and wellbeing of our staff. Mowing the greens in the morning, without the old ear defenders, listening to the waves gently roll in from the beach and the birds fly over the bass rock is an experience no other course in the world can offer.”

Also included in the deal from distributor Reesink Scotland were two Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420, three Reelmaster 3555 lightweight fairway mowers, a Groundsmaster 3500 rotary deck mower, a Multi Pro 5800 turf sprayer and a Pro Force debris blower.

Darren continues: “We’ve received four of the thirteen machines ordered fleet due to the supply chain issues worldwide and we’re sure that when the rest of the kit arrives, we will be even better placed to produce classic links conditions.”

The branch is also providing additional support kit for The Women’s Open final qualifying event held in August at North Berwick. Darren says: “With Neil Mackenzie on the road, the support from Rab Wilson and his aftersales team and Richard Green directing operations, we have always had full confidence in Reesink.”

He concludes: “We pride ourselves in thinking out the box here at North Berwick. As a result, we have seen the course go from strength to strength in the past two years and we are proud to have Toro as a part of our firm commitment to continual improvement.

“Regularly ranked in the world’s top 50 and the UK top 10, we have high expectations to meet for our customers. That means having the best machinery and technology available on the market, and that’s undoubtedly Toro.”

To talk to someone about Toro technology and how the Toro range could suit your course, call 01480 226800.

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