ShockWave delivers excellent surfaces at Repton School

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ShockWave delivers excellent surfaces at Repton School: Repton School in the heart of the Derbyshire countryside has an educational history spanning over 1000 years. Although outstanding on so many levels the school encourages pupils to adopt a healthy balance between their studies and sporting activities.

Parents and pupils seek out Repton because they know the school invests both in terms of pre-eminent coaches and world-class facilities to realise ability and sporting ambition.

ShockWave delivers excellent surfaces at Repton School

ShockWave delivers excellent surfaces at Repton School

Sports facilities at Repton School are of a superb standard and significant investments in recent years give pupils and the wider community access to state-of-the-art facilities including two floodlit water-based Astroturf hockey pitches and a sand-based Astroturf.

Alongside the 25m indoor swimming pool, fully equipped gym and fitness suite, are two multi-purpose indoor sports hall and tennis courts run activities such as tennis, netball, squash, and of course football, rugby, cricket and athletics.

It is these sports surfaces that Andy Butler, Head of Grounds and Gardens, is responsible for, covering an area of 66 acres at Repton and a further 44 acres at the preparatory school.

Already an experienced groundsman at Repton for 14 years, Andy took over 18 months ago as the man in charge. His priority was to review and re-structure the working days of the entire grounds team.

“We have a very experienced, and enthusiastic team of gardeners and grounds staff all willing to look at ways to improve our maintenance practices.” Explained Andy “Although in the past we have relied on outside contractors, our current objective is to bring as much as we can in-house and use our expertise to its full potential.

“When I considered how much equipment we already had available in the sheds, it was obvious that we could utilise them much more effectively with better organisation. I consulted all our suppliers regarding the timings of applying fertilisers, seeds, spraying, researching the available weather data and soil analysis, and organised a timetable for a new structured, planned approach to our grounds maintenance.”

Andy cited an example of the Imants ShockWave decompactor, supplied through Campey Turf Care Product Specialist Simon Holland.

“We have had the Imants ShockWave on-site now for over six years, using it intermittently for areas with excessive compaction or standing water issues. Now, in the new system, we schedule the ShockWave treatment for all turf pitches over the Autumn period when the conditions are perfect for this process, neither too cold nor too dry.”

The minimal surface disturbance of the ShockWave, results in no disruption or cancelled games following treatment and all of Repton School training sessions went ahead as planned. The timing allowed the turf to then lay dormant over the cold winter spell, while creating the perfect soil and root structure to encourage excellent turf growth in the Spring. This in turn created natural turf sports surfaces that were strong and resistant to the amount of wear and tear played out throughout the sporting fixtures.

Andy continued “Other practices such as spreading, seeding, fertilising, all follow a strict but not rigid pattern, as the weather plays a huge part in any professional groundsman’s day.

“We plan a complete renovation of our sports turf surfaces at Easter, using the Vredo Seeder and Dakota spreader to top dress after renovating, and the turf is back in full swing after three weeks.”

“There is no doubt that this approach has led to a huge improvement in our productivity without compromising on standards or requirements, and I would recommend that any establishment that is able to bring some if not all of their routine practices back under their own control, would benefit.”

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Celebrations to mark GreenMech at 30

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Celebrations to mark GreenMech at 30: With a rich history of supplying world-class woodchippers, 2023 sees the team at GreenMech proudly celebrating 30 years in business.

Over the course of the last three decades, innovation in manufacturing and a focus on service and support has cemented the GreenMech portfolio at the heart of operations for a wide array of end users from arborists and landscapers to local authorities, golf course managers and more. With their strongest product line-up to date, GreenMech look set to enter the next chapter with solutions that continue to set the industry standard in the UK and beyond.

Celebrations to mark GreenMech at 30

Celebrations to mark GreenMech at 30

While much may have changed in terms of products and features, GreenMech have called The Mill Industrial Park in Warwickshire their home since the company was founded in 1993 by, now Chairman, Tony Turner. From here, over 14,000 products have been designed and manufactured, with more than half of the total product exported to customers globally – as far as Iberia, Scandinavia, Fiji and New Zealand to mention just a few. Success around central Europe has also seen the establishment of GreenMech France and GreenMech Germany, to facilitate tailored sales and support in these markets.

The current range spans more than 15 units, with chipping capacities from 100mm up to 220mm. Alongside innovations such as GreenMech’s revolutionary disc-blade chipping system, turntable technology and their SAFE-Trak and SURE-Trak systems for unparalleled embankment safety, one of the biggest introductions in recent years was the launch of the EVO Series in 2019. Produced in direct response to industry demands for more aggressive torque, more powerful bite and more throughput, the EVO range encapsulates both road tow and tracked variants at 6” and 8” capacities.

Jonathan Turner, son of Tony and current GreenMech Managing Director said, “We are incredibly proud of our achievements but are even more positive and excited about our future. We look forward to supporting our existing customers while continuing to develop industry-leading new products, designed to perform without compromise.”

The team will be commemorating the occasion with colleagues, customers and friends at events across the calendar, starting with their attendance at The Arb Show, at Westonbirt in May. GreenMech at 30 also forms part of wider celebrations for Turner R&D Ltd, for whom 2023 marks 60 years of trading.

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UK Loggers Championships to be held at SAGE

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UK Loggers Championships to be held at SAGE: There’s yet another reason to make a date to visit SAGE, the UK’s biggest outdoor trade show in the sports and grounds maintenance industry, as it has just been announced that the UK Loggers National Championships will be held at the event.

The competition, which showcases the expertise and superb skills of the best loggers from around the country, will be hosted on the 19th and 20th of July 2023, at the stunning Three Counties showground in Malvern, Worcestershire.

UK Loggers Championships to be held at SAGE

UK Loggers Championships to be held at SAGE

The UK Loggers National Championship is a fierce test of precision and skill determining an overall precision chainsaw champion – with the best among the competitors going on to represent their country at the World Logging Championship next year. Consisting of five disciplines, the championship tests every facet of logging – from cross cutting, to felling, limbing, a chain change and a relay race.

Back for its third year, SAGE is the ideal place to host this contest, as it’s set to be the biggest yet.

Richard Siddons from UK Loggers said: “When we learnt more about SAGE and how it’s all about providing interactive, hands-on experiences and demonstrations, it was clear this would be the ideal place to hold the UK Loggers National Championships.

“Not only is there a huge amount of outside space available for us to hold the contest, we’ll also be surrounded by people who will appreciate the skill and experience of those taking part in the competition.

“We plan to put on a great show for those watching, who will also hopefully learn a little more about the many different aspects of precision chainsaw competing. And, of course, the champion will also be crowned, as well as the best few chosen to represent the UK next year at a global level.”

SAGE will also be an excellent event to network with others in the industry, as well as mingling with experts who will be providing demonstrations and interesting talks. Visitors will be able to view the latest equipment, share the newest techniques and truly ‘try before you buy’ – with the outside space meaning the sky really is the limit!

Companies are invited to be a part of the action and sponsor the UK Loggers National Championships, with only very limited places available. As part of the sponsorship package, brands will have a presence on the SAGE website and social platforms, printed banners, a big-screen ad, tannoid announcements and video footage of your demo. To enquire about these options, or to book exhibition space, please contact Vicky Panniers vp@sportsandgrounds.co.uk.

Find out more about the green measures at SAGE 2023 here https://sportsandgrounds.events/sustainability/

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John Deere Volunteer Programme open for applications

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John Deere Volunteer Programme open for applications: Applications are now open for the 2024 John Deere TPC Sawgrass Volunteer Programme, which will see seven British and Irish greenkeepers travel to Florida to help prepare the world-famous Stadium Course for the best golfers on the planet.

The volunteers are chosen from each of BIGGA’s five regions, in addition to an international member, and one GSCAI member from Ireland. They will join the TPC Sawgrass maintenance and agronomy team in the build-up to The Players Championship from 9-19 March 2024.

John Deere Volunteer Programme open for applications

John Deere Volunteer Programme open for applications

With all travel, accommodation and uniform costs covered by John Deere as part of its BIGGA Premium Partner relationship, volunteers will be fully integrated into the TPC Sawgrass pre-tournament team – an opportunity that may see them mowing the first tee before play starts, preparing the iconic 17th hole, or raking the bunkers as play gets underway.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any greenkeeper,” says Chris Meacock, John Deere’s Division Sales Manager for Golf and Turf. “Going to volunteer at TPC Sawgrass presents a fantastic opportunity for you to expand your knowledge and experience, and you’ll meet many like-minded professional greenkeepers from across the globe.”

The 2023 cohort of greenkeeper volunteers included Assistant Course Manager Alex Brougham from Trentham Park Golf Club, Senior Greenkeeper Peter Lewis from Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Deputy Head Greenkeeper Eddie Irvine from Trump International Aberdeen, and Course Manager Mark Tucker from Temple Golf Club.

Each greenkeeper became an integral part of the team, preparing the course well ahead of the practice rounds and working until the tournament concluded, using the huge fleet of John Deere machinery from the Sawgrass maintenance compound.

Eddie Irvine said: “The experience has helped me improve as a person and in my profession, by enabling me to move forwards with my career.

Alex Brougham added: “I learnt a lot from the Sawgrass greenkeeping team, and by networking with the other volunteers. I left with a better understanding of how the team operates at one of the best championship golf courses in the world. I’m now aiming to utilise as much of that knowledge as possible back at Trentham Golf Club.”

Karl Hansell, BIGGA’s Head of Communications and Marketing, accompanied the group to Sawgrass in March 2023.

Karl said: “Having worked at BIGGA promoting this wonderful initiative for seven years, I thought I had some understanding of TPC Sawgrass and what the trip entailed. But nothing could prepare me for the actual experience of being there.

“The TPC Sawgrass agronomy team was so welcoming that the greenkeepers accompanied were made to feel right at home, and several previous John Deere volunteers now return every year at their own expense, such was their enjoyment of the trip.

“I can’t recommend this experience enough.”

The 2023 Championship at TPC Sawgrass saw American Scottie Scheffler win the tournament five shots clear of Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, shooting 17 under par for the tournament.

The application process is open to all full BIGGA members over the age of 21, who have been a full member for at least 12 months. The deadline for applications is 31 May 2023, and you can fill in your application online at the BIGGA website now.

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Royal Norwich looks to the future

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Royal Norwich looks to the future: Royal Norwich’s 2019 reincarnation has created a golfing environment like no other. Born out of a 350 acre, 400 year old parkland course, its clever new course designs and outstanding facilities are providing an inclusive, progressive place for the whole community to relish well into the future. Huxley Golf is proud to have been involved in its transformation. 

Neil Lythgoe, Director of Golf at Royal Norwich, explains: “We’re working to create a completely different experience here at Royal Norwich, one which is welcoming to established golfers, new golfers and non-golfers alike. Central to this ethos is embracing inventiveness but with an absolute focus on quality. To my mind, Huxley Golf surfaces embody this approach.”

Royal Norwich looks to the future

Royal Norwich looks to the future

In 2021, Royal Norwich asked Huxley Golf to supply 6ft x 6ft (1.8m x 1.8m) tees for its par 3, 6- hole course to make the most of a short course’s enormous potential to attract newcomers and juniors to the game. Recognising the need to offer year-round play and the impact that this would have in terms of wear and tear in a small, frequently-used space, Huxley Golf’s premium all-weather surface was the optimal solution. Critically, specifying Huxley surfaces also supported the Club’s direction to construct its short course to the same high standard as its 18-hole championship course.

Neil Lythgoe commented: “Managing environmental challenges and the customer experience is a hard balance to strike. When you’re working to maintain playability and quality and there’s no room for alternative tees, you need to consider all-weather surfaces to spread the wear – they’re clearly the future.

However, if you’re going to use artificial surfaces, the quality needs to be outstanding. If you lay a surface that you can’t get a tee peg into, players feel that it’s a poor alternative. You certainly don’t get that with Huxley Golf Premier Tee Turf: it’s great to play off and gives good feedback when you hit the shots. Honestly, it’s an amazing surface which members are more than happy to use. In fact, one member, a three-time Club Champion, recently told me how much he loved it. The greenkeeping team appreciate its benefits too. My view is that all-weather surfaces have a definite role in the future of golf in this country and that Huxley Golf is the only option worth considering.”

Building on the hugely positive reception to the short course (the Royal Norwich Junior Academy now has over 100 students), the Club returned to Huxley Golf for its practice area. Working with Premier Tee Turf once more, the new 56ft x 6ft (17m x 1.8m) practice tee was installed locally by members Mark Burton and Julian Poole, with expert guidance from Huxley to guarantee the end result.

Will Alsop, PGA Professional and Area Sales Manager for Huxley Golf, said: “From the moment you walk into the clubhouse at Royal Norwich, you notice that it’s clearly quite different. The place is full of character, comfortable and welcoming without compromising in any way on the quality of its provision. As a player, the Royal Norwich courses are young but outstanding in design and they’re really coming into their own. This progressive club is a perfect blend of new ideas and traditional quality, which we at Huxley pride ourselves on too. We have been delighted
to be a part of Royal Norwich’s future-focused plans.”

The Huxley name has been synonymous with premium all-weather golf surfaces and products. Endorsed by the UK’s leading golf organisations as well as many legendary golfers and celebrities and their coaching teams, the company’s artificial golf surfaces are in use all around the world at top-flight courses, resorts, and training academies. For more information visit www.huxleygolf.com or call 01730 829608. For more information about Royal Norwich, visit www.royalnorwich.co.uk

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