Troon promotes Simon Doyle

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Troon promotes Simon Doyle: Troon®, the leader in club management, development, and marketing is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Doyle as the organisation’s new Vice President of Agronomy for the international division, effective immediately, following his promotion from Director of Agronomy, Troon International Europe Region. 

Troon International is passionate about sustainable golf course maintenance and committed to collaborating with its clients to achieve these objectives. Simon’s longstanding career of 20 years with Troon and his ongoing and strong client relationships were a key reason for his promotion along with his demonstrable impact in helping Troon International develop and improve its assets in Europe, particularly in Germany and Switzerland. As the new Vice President of Agronomy within Troon International, Simon will be tasked with ensuring that the organisation is aligned with as many golf courses as possible whom share similar beliefs and objectives, joining forces to create more great golfing environments that are not only fantastic to play on but are also sustainable using the best practices available today.

Troon promotes Simon Doyle

Troon promotes Simon Doyle

Simon has a rich history in the golf industry and agronomy. Prior to joining Troon, Doyle was educated at the highly regarded Reaseheath College, where he received a Higher National Diploma in Golf Course Management, progressing to Ohio State University in the US. Following his education he took up posts at Major, Ryder Cup and PGA Tour venues, Westchester CC and Oak Hill CC in New York. In 2000, Doyle moved to Japan where he worked as a consulting Agronomist for US based firm Environmental Turfgrass Systems.

In 2002 he joined Troon where he was seconded to Goldman Sachs in Japan as part of a team to oversee the management of Goldman’s golf company, Accordia Golf. This then led to the position of Asset Manager for the same group of courses and subsequent acquisitions by Goldman. Doyle, who prior to his promotion has been operating as Director of Agronomy for Troon in Europe, where he has been overseeing the expanding portfolio of courses that Troon International has on its books.

Looking ahead to his new role within Troon International, Doyle said: “I am delighted to work for such a great company and alongside a talented group of individuals. I joined Troon 20 years ago because I knew their reputation for agronomy and wanted to be part of that. There is nothing more satisfying than being part of creating great golf course conditions.”

Commenting on his day-to-day role, Doyle said: “I spend the majority of my time at our partner facilities, where I review  golf course conditions with each superintendent and support the team to ensure good planning and continued or even improved playing surfaces. Each golf course is unique. I enjoy having dynamic conversations with colleagues on the ground to help map out the road to success for that particular facility. Having the Troon toolbox and it’s agronomic best practices at my fingertips is a key factor to maximizing course conditioning. My work not only involves  diagnosing and resolving turfgrass problems but also helping to overcome management issues.”

Speaking about Simon Doyle’s promotion was Dave Nicholls, Senior VP of Science and Agronomy, who said: “I’m proud to support Simon and his promotion to the position of Vice President Science & Agronomy, of Troon’s International Division.  Simon’s 20 years of service in Asia and Europe helped Troon develop an industry leading set of proprietary agronomic standards that are now applied all-over the world.  His personality and work ethic, make him a critical part of Troon’s global success, and I look forward to watching Simon grow in his recently expanded role.”

One of the pillars of Troon International’s success is the superior playing surfaces of its courses. This commitment to agronomic superiority and environmental sustainability is a focus of Troon International’s proprietary Agronomy Standards. Troon International’s Agronomy Standards are the most exacting and detailed standards in the golf industry. These programmes are based on a philosophy drawing upon complex scientific principles and a deep respect and understanding of the natural environment.

To find out more about Troon International, please visit: www.Troon.com/troon-international

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Microclover could prove key

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Microclover could prove key: As drought conditions continue and more restrictions come into force around water usage over the coming weeks, it is hard not to notice that many local authority sports grounds, gardens and public spaces have fallen victim to heat, particularly in terms of visual merit.

However, you may have noticed that amongst the current brown and baron land, patches of green remain – clover – which, as DLF explain, generates its own nitrogen from the atmosphere making it one of the most tolerant varieties to drought and other high stress environments.

Microclover could prove key

Microclover could prove key

Alongside more frequent periods of sustained hot and dry weather, the rise in fertiliser prices is driving seed producers to look for varieties that can be maintained with a more sustainable nitrogen programme. The unique root nodules on clover are formed by the Rhizobium bacteria, capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into a natural fertiliser available for the clover as well as the companion grasses. Sourced in this way, the supply will also be gradual and ongoing, contributing to more sustained growth when compared to the ‘flush’ that can occur when larger quantities of nitrogen are applied as part of a managed feeding programme.

Microclover is a special bred dwarf white clover which joins in well with other turf species. The smaller leaves and lower growth habit contribute to a dense, uniform appearance as well as delivering strong wear qualities and heat/drought tolerance. All of this means that the inclusion of Microclover can result in a sward that suffers from less weed and disease invasion, and one that requires less water, fertiliser and ultimately cost, to sustain. In trials conducted by the STRI, Microclover is proven to deliver enhanced coverage and improved colour when compared to pure grass swards.

Masterline’s PM82 Microclover Sport mixture from DLF, has been specifically blended with these benefits in mind. PM82 improves turf quality whilst being kinder to the environment thanks to its reduced requirements for herbicide and fertiliser. Alongside Microclover, PM82 also features 40% Double 4turf® tetraploid perennial ryegrass. The deeper rooting nature of DLF’s 4turf® varieties means it can better withstand drought-like conditions and remains green even when the plant above ground is starved of water.

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Ardfin Golf Club welcomes Toro

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Ardfin Golf Club welcomes Toro: Ardfin Golf Club’s golf manager and mechanic were in complete agreement that the club’s hybrid machinery purchases should be Toro.

Carved along the shoreline at the top of a cliff on the Isle of Jura in Scotland, Ardfin Golf Club is not only one of the most unique golf courses in the world but one that has had the least interference in the natural landscape it is part of. And to both keep its spot in the top 100 best golf clubs to play at and continue the sustainability work it is known for, the club is now trusting its greens to Toro.

Ardfin Golf Club welcomes Toro

Ardfin Golf Club welcomes Toro

Golf manager Simon Crawford says: “I’ve used Toro before in previous jobs, including overseas when I worked in Barbados, Austria and the Middle East. Nothing can compare to it, it’s my favourite brand to use and as soon as I came here, I knew we’d have to switch. Our mechanic is also a Toro fan and prefers to work with Toro machinery, something that also has a big impact on what we buy. It was a match made in heaven.”

Speaking of heaven, Ardfin’s location as part of the Inner Hebrides is pretty close but maintaining a golf course in such a remote location doesn’t come without its challenges. Ardfin has managed to strike a balance between the site’s environmental needs and the commercial side of business while remaining at the top of destinations for both UK residents and international visitors looking for “a golf experience that’s like an adventure”, says Simon.

“An island like Jura is a precious place that we try to protect as much as possible. When the course was first built, we didn’t move a lot of land; instead, we reused the topsoil, improved the drainage and kept everything on a smaller scale to ensure habitats were protected – the greens are narrow, and we have fewer bunkers than usual. We don’t use fungicides or herbicides and try to have as little impact on the environment as we can: everything is recycled, and all the grass cuttings are used for composting. Getting more sustainable machinery was the logical next step.”

The club chose a Greensmaster TriFlex hybrid 3420 riding greensmower and a Reelmaster 5010-H fairway mower as starters from Toro distributor, Reesink Scotland. Both are hybrid machines and a perfect fit for what Simon and his nine-strong team are looking to achieve at Ardfin.

“We are trying to slowly but surely move away from using hydraulics and diesel engines,” he explains. “These ones we bought don’t have hydraulics thus there’s less of a chance of damage on the greens, tees, approaches and fairways. It gives us peace of mind.

“The difference in quality is also quite noticeable compared to other brands and the staff enjoys working with them. Overall, Toro machines are more robust, easier to set up and look after and we find the cutting units stay sharper for longer, too. Not to mention their brilliant finish. The service we get from Reesink is fantastic. It’s an easy company to deal with, with good aftersales and good contacts. Plus, when we ordered from them it only took a couple of months for the machines to arrive.”

So, what’s next for the club? Simon explains: “We’re expanding the site by adding a new nine-hole course and when we do, we’ll be looking after 36 holes in total. So, we need to buy a lot more machinery to ensure we stay efficient and productive and, of course, provide the best experience to our visitors. It also needs to be reliable and have good longevity, which Toro delivers 100 percent.

“We’re planning on going down the all-electric route next and have our eyes on a couple of the Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 greensmowers. They will solidify our sustainability plan and help us carry on the work we do for generations. The technology is there, and it’ll only get better so we’re very excited to bring it into the club,” he concludes.

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

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