GKB SP100 improves accuracy and efficiency

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GKB SP100 improves accuracy and efficiency: The Course Manager at Longniddry Golf Club in East Lothian has praised the versatility delivered by their new GKB SP100 topdresser, following its delivery in September 2022.

Replacing an older, heavier unit that was difficult to manoeuvre around the 18-hole links/parkland hybrid course, the SP100 mounts onto their existing ProGator for fast, accurate and efficient dressing of the greens, tees and approaches.

David Drummond joined as Longniddry Course Manager in May 2022, and after a quick assessment of the machinery in the shed, the GKB Sandspreader was one of the first investments to support him and his team of five. “Our previous topdresser was showing signs of age and as a bigger unit that needed a heavy tractor, it wasn’t really suited to our current requirements. With this is mind, I spoke to local dealer Thomas Sherriff & Co about a vehicle-mounted unit” explains David. “Because we only have one utility vehicle, whatever we went for needed to be easily demountable and while I’d not had first-hand experience of the GKB machine before, we looked at it and were instantly impressed.”

“It’s a great set-up, very robust and the controls are all nice and simple. One particular feature we really like is the ability to adjust the distance of the spinning discs on the SP100 which gives us more control over the amount of dressing we apply.”

Offering a range of adjustable parameters, the SP100 is the smallest unit in the GKB Sandspreader range but doesn’t compromise when it comes to capacity – offering a 1m3 hopper which David says has significantly improved the efficiency of the operation. “The hopper is really easy to load using our compact tractor and can hold a good amount of material which results in fewer re-loads, saving all-important labour time.”

David continues, “The SP100 was out on the very first day it was delivered and has so far carried out operations on the greens, tees and approaches and moving forwards it’ll be critical to our ongoing maintenance programme.” He explains that the SP100 will be in use for spring renovations in February and following this it’ll be out at least once a month until October – possibly even conducting some work on the fairways.

“We’ve been really pleased with both the machine and the service and support we’ve received from Sherriff’s throughout and after the purchase process. The team and I now look forward to putting it through its paces in the very busy season ahead.”

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16.1 million social posts reveal golf’s great divide

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16.1 million social posts reveal golf’s great divide: Syngenta today publishes the findings of a pioneering social media listening project analyzing 16.1 million mentions of golf to learn what people say about the sport as well as their experiences of the game.

Golf & Social Media: The Great Divide, free to download from www.syngentagolf.com, has been produced in conjunction with global market research firm Ipsos and, using its Artificial Intelligence enabled Synthesio platform, explores key conversations and customer reviews, providing insights on why people play golf in two leading golf markets: the United States and the United Kingdom.

16.1 million social posts reveal golf’s great divide

16.1 million social posts reveal golf’s great divide

As well as identifying the most talked about topics online (professional golf 20%, personal experiences 16% and equipment 13%), the interactive report highlights important themes, including:

  • News drives conversations: Donald Trump and controversial topics such as LIV Golf supercharge online activity, but create negative sentiment, impacting golf’s reputation
  • Experiences drive interactions: while news about golf is negative, mentions of experiencing golf are positive, with posts on Instagram generating 41% of all interactions, engaging golfers and non-golfers alike
  • You’re either a golfer… or you’re not: real or perceived, golf still faces a challenge with exclusivity, and prospective players need to feel they are joining an inclusive community to be able to perceive themselves as golfers.

By analyzing customer reviews and understanding what motivates people to play golf, two clear customer profiles emerged: Insiders and Outsiders.

With both groups playing or attracted to golf for different reasons, golf faces a challenge – and an opportunity – to generate business growth by meeting the needs and expectations of both customer profiles.

Mark Birchmore, Head of Global Marketing for Syngenta Turf and Landscape, said: “This is the first major market study we have undertaken since publishing our findings highlighting a $35 billion market opportunity to grow female participation.

“What’s changed since then ­– and over the decade since we have been publishing customer insights reports as part of our Syngenta Growing Golf campaign – is the exponential rise of social media and its multiple channels of influence. Working with Ipsos and using AI to analyze millions of posts has enabled us to take a deep dive into social media and extract key insights and solutions for golf.

“As with all our reports, the purpose is to help golf courses better understand customers and use the insights for business growth.”

Golf & Social Media: The Great Divide is published today at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, and will be followed throughout the year by supplementary studies into key topics including Gender, Diversity, Sustainability and Golf Entertainment.

DOWNLOAD Golf & Social Media: The Great Divide

To receive market insights and success stories of individuals and businesses transforming golf, visit Syngenta Growing Golf: http://www.syngentagolf.com

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Awards galore for Carnoustie Golf Links

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Awards galore for Carnoustie Golf Links: The Championship Course at Carnoustie Golf Links, ‘Golf’s Greatest Test’ and host of The 147th Open in 2018, was named best golf course in Scotland at the 2023 Scottish Golf Tourism Awards.

Carnoustie Golf Links was successful in the Best Golf Course over £150 category for the third time in recent years and the awards didn’t end there as Carnoustie pipped the competition to take home the ‘Best Pro Shop’ Award for the second time in as many years.

Awards galore for Carnoustie Golf Links

Awards galore for Carnoustie Golf Links

The Championship Course at Carnoustie was up against a shortlist which included Castle Stuart, the King’s Course at Gleneagles and North Berwick.

Links Superintendent, Kevin Stott, said “This award recognises the hard work and effort that our whole team put in to looking after our world class golf courses and facilities every day. We are extremely proud to present the courses at Carnoustie in an outstanding condition to our local, national and international guests”

Rebecca Tully, Head of Merchandise, said: “Our Professional Shop has grown from strength to strength over the years. We picked up this same award in 2022 and couldn’t be more delighted to be awarded it again this year. We are committed to providing the very best offering and experience at Carnoustie, and this award is testament to the efforts that we put in every single day.”

Carnoustie Golf Links also picked up the Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Award at The Courier Business Awards in late 2022. The last 12 months have seen a number of other successes at Carnoustie, including the launch of their research hub in collaboration with Abertay University and the launch of its brand-new High Performance Junior Programme. History was made at Carnoustie in August 2022 when they hosted the Boy’s and Girl’s Amateur Championships – where the finals were played alongside each other for the first time ever and late 2022 saw the near completion of the Seagreen development project stage at Carnoustie which will provide Scotland, and the wider UK, with critical green infrastructure and will become Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, helping to meet Scotland’s net-zero targets and tackle climate change.

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STIHL launches advance procom X-VENT

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STIHL launches advance procom X-VENT: STIHL has launched ADVANCE ProCOM X-VENT which sees the popular ADVANCE ProCOM headset fitted as standard to its X-VENT safety helmet.

This new product offers forestry and landscaping professionals clear, high-quality communications and top-of-the-range ear and head protection all-in-one. ADVANCE ProCOM is also available as an ear defender set, or as an accessory for the ADVANCE X-CLIMB and other 3M compatible helmets for a wide range of choice.

STIHL launches advance procom X-VENT

STIHL launches advance procom X-VENT

Fixed to the X-VENT for optimum comfort and safety, the ADVANCE ProCOM headset offers seamless on-site communication with up to 16 other ADVANCE ProCOM users. It also boasts a range of up to 600m between two users, dependent on terrain; with each headset acting as a repeater to extend the range should more than two headsets be in use at once.

Its intuitive ambient mode allows users to hear and react to potential dangers around them, with automatic de-activation, should loud noise be detected, for maximum protection.

The design, which puts user safety at the forefront, not only offers the ADVANCE ProCOM’s industry-leading ear protection, but hardwearing head protection, complete with reflective strips, in the form of the X-VENT. The vented helmet comes with a sturdy spring steel mesh visor which allows up to 80% light visibility for a clear, protected view. For ease of use, it also comes with a ratchet adjustment headband and a twist lock to adjust its size and height.

The ADVANCE ProCOM X-VENT also features qualities such as smartphone voice assistance, an integrated FM radio and app customisation. Additionally, it offers both open-mic and push-to-talk options to suit the level of communication required.

For more information on STIHL’s new ADVANCE ProCOM X-VENT, visit www.stihl.co.uk

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