International Thank a Greenkeeper Day

/in , /by

International Thank a Greenkeeper Day: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, in conjunction with other global greenkeeper and course superintendent groups, is recognising those who help keep golf courses enjoyable and sustainable with an international ‘Thank a Greenkeeper Day’.

BIGGA, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and other partner associations are encouraging those who love golf to take a moment to thank their course’s greenkeeping team.

International Thank a Greenkeeper Day

International Thank a Greenkeeper Day

Thank a Greenkeeper Day will be celebrated on Tuesday 13 September, which also marks the GCSAA’s 96th anniversary.

The celebration will include a commercial that will appear on the Golf Channel and other media outlets and social media messages touting the many ways that greenkeepers benefit the game and their communities’ golfers. Others are encouraged to join in the conversation on social media using the hashtags #ThankAGreenkeeper or #ThankASuper depending on their country’s nomenclature. In addition, golf courses and other groups are encouraged to provide special recognition for their greenkeeping teams on 13 September.

During the 2021 Thank a Greenkeeper Day, social media messages reached more than 9 million followers around the world.

To learn more about BIGGA and the role greenkeepers play in the enjoyment and sustainability of the game, visit www.bigga.org.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Kubota excels on historic estate

/in , /by

Kubota excels on historic estate: Kubota’s ZD1211 zero turn mower is showing its versatility on a busy estate in South Wales which is a popular and picturesque events venue.

The Glanusk Estate, near Crickhowell, totals 3000 acres, of which 350 acres is parkland, much in demand for everything from weddings to festivals and as a set for film and television work. There’s also a busy caravan site and holiday cottages with stunning views, while the park boasts the second largest collection of oak trees in the UK.

Kubota excels on historic estate

Kubota excels on historic estate

Owner Harry Legge-Bourke has a long relationship with Kubota, having used a BX compact tractor with mowing deck for some 20 years.

“I was looking for a more versatile mower to work in the gardens and the areas of the parkland used for events, golf course and caravan park, and having seen a ZD at a local hotel, thought it would fit the bill,” he explains.

The manoeuvrability of the zero turn design is key, to work around obstacles such as electric hook up points in the caravan park and mow close to trees safely, Harry points out.

“It offers a good quality cut and I’ve specified a mulching kit for areas such as the caravan park, where it’s important to minimise clippings which otherwise might be walked into the vans, ” he adds.

With such a large and varied area of grass to maintain, Harry comments that the speed of the ZD1211 is its outstanding feature. Powered by a 25hp diesel engine with shaft driven two-speed HST transmission the ZD can travel at up to 17kph, making light work of long runs while turning effortlessly in its own length at the end.

“We can cut four acres of gardens in an hour for example, which helps us keep on top of mowing when we are so busy,” he comments.

The Kubota mower is also handy for topping off the park between events, and with the varied mowing requirements, the ability to swap cut height from 25-127mm just by using a convenient dial also comes in for praise. The three-blade rear discharge rotary deck cuts effectively in the wet, a useful quality in the green and lush region.

Although the zero turn lever steer design was a departure for Harry and his team, they have quickly got used to it, he comments.

“It’s very good to drive, and very comfortable with its well-padded seat. All the controls fall easily to hand.”

There’s one other factor that has brought Harry back to Kubota for this latest purchase and that’s the brand’s renowned dependability.

“The mower is built to industrial standards and that gives peace of mind. Our experiences with previous Kubota machines have shown how reliable they are and the ZD has the quality to last us for many trouble-free years.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Headland programme praised by Gillingham GC

/in , /by

Headland programme praised by Gillingham GC: After previously suffering with the side effects of excessive thatch content, the Course Manager at Gillingham Golf Club has praised a programme from Headland Amenity for its role in transforming the health and presentation of the greens.

Together with a comprehensive cultural regime, the improvement in course condition has seen a reduction in disease activity and reduced reliance on fungicides, and saw Gillingham proudly play host to a Kent Golf Captains event for the very first time.

Headland programme praised by Gillingham GC

Headland programme praised by Gillingham GC

John Hunnisett joined as Course Manager just over a year ago, where he was faced with a course that lacked any definition – with multiple areas including bunker surrounds and tee banks left completely unmaintained. To make the transformation project even more challenging, the greens team consisted of three trainees and, 13 months on, John remains the only qualified greenkeeper out of the team of five. “I pretty much had to start from scratch in all areas” explains John. “I’d used a few Headland products previously but had the benefit of seeing a full Headland programme in action during a stint spent at The London Golf Club. It opened my eyes to a whole new range and so called in our Headland Technical Manager Andy Ward to help with the monumental task at hand.”

Soil analysis taken by Andy highlighted high levels of organic matter in the top 20mm which, combined with an increase in aeration, scarification and topdressing, has been improved with a new nutritional regime. “Our summer programme consists of Protec® Plus, TeMag™ Elite, Turfite® Elite and Ascoflex® Plus. This combination of products delivers a long-lasting, balanced supply of nitrogen together with maximising health and recovery following periods of heat and/or stress. We have received lots of positive comments from the members about the presentation, with many saying that the greens have never looked better!”

“In the autumn and winter we switch to Headland’s 20-20-30 tank-mix which is probably my favourite discovery and has made the biggest difference to the greens. The combination of reducing organic matter and enhancing plant health with monthly applications of 20-20-30 between September and March drastically reduced the amount of disease we registered – and what we did get was easily recoverable and didn’t lead to scarring.”

Headland’s industry-leading 20-20-30 tank-mix combines Liquid Turf Hardener, Turfite® Elite and Seamac® ProTurf Fe, proven to deliver enhanced plant strength and disease resistance when applied as part of a preventative approach. John continues, “The course emerged in the spring of 2022 healthier than ever, which was great as we entered preparations to host the Hampshire County Match at the end of June. Being selected for this for the first time was testament to just how far we’ve come, with the right products and the pure passion of my team.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.