Nothing beats the ProFlex 120

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Nothing beats the ProFlex 120: Following more than 12 years of reliable service, a ProFlex 120 at Mid Herts Golf Club has been joined by… well, another ProFlex 120!

Delivered by Vanmac’s James Boyle in April 2024, the five floating rotary decks on the Progressive unit conform to the peaks and troughs of the terrain at the Hertfordshire club making the like for like purchase a straight forward one for Course Manager Jody Wilson.

Nothing beats the ProFlex 120

Nothing beats the ProFlex 120

One of the oldest golf clubs in the country, Mid Herts offers a classic heathland terrain with rippled fairways and quick greens, nestled within traditional grassy hollows. While the picturesque countryside undulations pose a challenge for players, they make no match for the contour following ability of the ProFlex! “12 years ago we tried and tested a range of rough mowers and found the ProFlex 120 was the best suited to our conditions. Fast forward to this year and we went through the same process again, only to find there’s still nothing in the market better than this machine!”

The Progressive ProFlex 120 delivers a uniform cut on both flat and uneven ground, the five floating decks covering an area of 3.0m in a single pass and evenly dispersing clippings for an immaculate finish. The ability to quickly and easily adjust the HOC on each individual deck makes the mower incredibly versatile, and the ideal choice for stepped or transition cutting.

“The build quality has always been exceptional, and our new ProFlex is no different” Jody explains. “We’ve kept hold of our older machine for the weekly cutting of the practice ground. It still cuts exceptionally well and, with a good jet-wash, would still clean up a treat. Besides the expected wear and tear, we’ve rarely had any downtime or costly repair bills, and with the sealed blade spindle bearings on the new ProFlex, the routine maintenance will be even easier.”

The recent delivery complements a range of other equipment from Vanmac already in the Mid Herts shed. “For the summer, we’re now set for mowing the roughs and practice ground with our pair of ProFlex’s, then in the winter we’re big Trilo users – with two blowers and an S4 vacuum collector helping us to keep on top of playability and presentation.” He added, “The service from Vanmac is always first-class. It’s great product with great back-up.”

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Royal Golf Club Bahrain receives Club Car fleet

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Royal Golf Club Bahrain receives Club Car fleet: Club Car®, global industry-leading manufacturer of small-wheel, zero-emissions electric vehicles, has delivered a new fleet of golf vehicles to the prestigious Royal Golf Club in Bahrain.

The world-class venue hosted the Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour in February and welcomes 42,000 rounds a year on its two courses – the magnificent Colin Montgomerie-designed 18-hole championship layout and a 9-hole par-3 course.

Royal Golf Club Bahrain receives Club Car fleet

Royal Golf Club Bahrain receives Club Car fleet

Royal Golf Club chose the market-leading Club Car Tempo golf car in Metallic Blue Onyx complete with premium features including Visage (GPS technology), alloy wheels and comfort seats.

The vehicles were delivered through Luxury Carts, the Club Car distributor in the Middle East, and also have coolers, sand bottles and inbuilt USB ports.

Royal Golf Club General Manager, Juan Manuel Fuentes, said: “Our players use golf cars here because of the high temperatures and course design. That is why we commit to offer our members and guests an exceptional experience during their rounds with us.”

“Club Car has given us just that – the 80 new cars are fantastic.”

The new cars were used to transport VIP guests during the Bahrain Championship earlier this year – the DP World Tour’s first return to the Kingdom since 2011 – held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

“Club Car is an easy choice because the product is superior and the level of service is excellent,” Fuentes added. “The cars were delivered quickly – there was not a long wait after ordering.”

Nicolas Le Glas, Club Car Regional Manager Middle East and Africa, said: “Royal Golf Club Bahrain offers its guests world class service, and we’re proud to play a part in that with these new vehicles.”

“I’d like to express my gratitude to the board of Royal Golf Club Bahrain, Juan Manuel and Troon for continuing the longstanding relationship with Club Car.”

Club Car Tempo has many customisable options including colour, seats, storage, wheels and three programmable drive modes to maximise performance.

For more information on Club Car visit: www.clubcar.com

For more information on Royal Bahrain Golf Club visit: https://www.theroyalgolfclub.com

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school: The first ever RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden designed by and for children has been relocated to its permanent home at Sulivan Primary School in southwest London.

The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden was designed by pupils from the school and award-winning garden designer Harry Holding and was visited by HRH King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Reimagined to suit its new setting in the school grounds, the unique garden will now be a lasting feature for pupils to explore, learn and play in, as well as take care of.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden beds in at London school

Nearly all elements from the original show garden have been transferred to the school, with the exception of the stream and rock pool. Instead, the subterranean den is set within a sea of wildflowers and has been reimagined by treehouse builders Root and Shoot into a sustainable climbing frame using timber from RHS Garden Wisley and rubber from waste material. Sculptural clay elements, crafted by land artist Finbar Ward and decorated by pupils, which previously adorned a wall within the show garden have now been positioned on the façade of the school itself.

As part of the relocation, the layout of the show garden has been adapted to suit the school’s setting, which is surrounded by a number of mature trees.  A path through the garden separates two distinct areas; one is low intervention with a wildflower meadow, a composting zone and dead hedges which provide habitats for wildlife, while the more cultivated side of the garden is packed with a variety of bold and colourful summer plants including kniphofias and gladioli, as well as edibles such as strawberries.

Wendy Aldridge, Headteacher at Sulivan Primary School, said: “We are so excited to welcome the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden to its new home. This garden will be a fantastic resource for our pupils, allowing them to develop hands-on gardening skills and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. It provides a unique, interactive space where children can learn about biodiversity, sustainability, and the importance of caring for our environment. The collaborative process of designing and now maintaining the garden has been invaluable, fostering a strong sense of community and pride within our school.”

Harry Holding, Award-winning Garden Designer, said: “It has been such a joy to work on
this momentous project and reimagining the show garden for its permanent home has been every bit as enjoyable as preparing it for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Seeing the pupils’ excitement as they interact with the garden, both in its original form and now in its new home, has been incredibly rewarding. In its new location, the design benefits from more space, lots of mature trees, and plenty of environments to explore. This garden will provide endless opportunities for discovery and learning, and will live on to benefit thousands of children and families from the local community for years to come. I am very much looking forward to seeing how it evolves with the students’ care and creativity.”

Alana Cama, RHS Senior Learning Manager, said: “The RHS is committed to nurturing a love of gardening in children and creating opportunities for them to engage with nature in a meaningful way. By involving pupils in the design and maintenance of the garden, they have quickly cultivated a sense of responsibility and connection to the environment. We’re excited to follow the progress of the garden and to see how it inspires a love of gardening amongst the school’s pupils for years to come. This project exemplifies our mission to make gardening accessible and enjoyable for all ages, and we are thrilled to see it find a permanent home at Sulivan Primary School.”

Sulivan Primary School is a member of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening which provides teachers with free resources and training, designed to help them give more children the opportunity to learn about caring for plants and our planet through gardening, while connecting with nature and boosting their wellbeing. The RHS is committed to fostering a love of gardening across generations and ensuring that it is an accessible activity for everyone.

For information on how to get involved with the RHS Campaign for School Gardening visit: https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk

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Origin Introduces Fiata Stressgard® from Envu

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Origin Introduces Fiata Stressgard® from Envu: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) is delighted to announce the launch of a groundbreaking product – Fiata Stressgard® to the UK golf market. This new Biostimulant promises unrivalled results that will transform the care of turfgrass.

OAS is the UK partner and distributor of Fiata Stressgard®, developed and manufactured by Envu, a leading brand in sustainable turf management solutions.  Fiata Stressgard® contains a blend of compounds that act as powerful bio-stimulants which activate plant defence mechanisms and enhance turf health, resilience, and overall performance.

Origin Introduces Fiata Stressgard® from Envu

Origin Introduces Fiata Stressgard® from Envu

At the heart of Fiata Stressgard® lies a unique pigment that instantly enhances turf colour and plays a crucial role in long-term stress management. By reflecting the harmful light only, it helps optimise photosynthesis and energy production, preventing the breakdown of chlorophyll.

Stressgard® Technology also contains proprietary plant health compounds specially selected to promote turf health under the most stressful conditions.

This latest product further bolsters Origin Amenity Solutions’ (OAS) comprehensive range of biostimulants. Their partnership with manufacturer Envu, reinforces OAS’ commitment to the golf and sports turf market, providing its customers with new and innovative products alongside advice that enhances their turf management programmes.

Key Benefits of Fiata Stressgard®

  1. Proven to deliver elite turf performance when under stresses such as high temperatures, drought and traffic. Helping surfaces stay healthy and vibrant during peak stress periods and enhancing recovery.
  2. Complements any integrated turf management programme. The components within Fiata Stressgard® have been proven to prime turf plants for stress and disease resistance by triggering stress-responsive genes.
  3. Instant colour and long-term photosynthesis enhancement, delivering visually appealing, healthy turf. With a flexible application rate, Fiata Stressgard® can be tailored to give the exact colour response required to elevate turf appearance and manage stress.

Phil Logan, National Account Manager, Envu UK & Ireland comments; “You can’t predict the weather, but you can predict Stressgard® results. It’s been extensively tested across a range of environmental conditions for over 25 years and is scientifically proven to protect turf all year long. Fiata Stressgard® is the latest innovative product to utilise Stressgard® technology and has been designed specifically to improve plant health and performance.  Applied in a programme approach it will help turf thrive during stress and recover faster.  I am delighted to see Mark and the team at OAS embracing the substantial benefits of this new biostimulant product and rolling it out to their UK golf customers.”

Mark De Ath, Plant Protection Products Team Lead for Origin Amenity Solutions adds, “I am thrilled to bring Fiata Stressgard®, a biostimulant developed by Envu, exclusively to the UK. It is a highly effective product that will help Greenkeepers and turf managers promote turf grass health, colour, performance, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Fiata Stressgard® is only available via Origin Amenity Solutions. It comes in 9.46-litre containers with a flexible application rate of 10-20 l/ha dependant on management factors. It’s suitable for use on golf courses, as well as sports fields, bowling greens, parks, and residential or commercial sites. Our OAS technical sales advisors will provide advice and recommendations on incorporating Fiata Stressgard® into your existing maintenance programme. Please get in touch today.”

To find out more about Fiata Stressgard® visit uk.envu.com or contact the Origin Amenity Solutions team on 0800 138 7222

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Heart of Midlothian F.C. Embraces the Dennis ES-34R

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Heart of Midlothian F.C. Embraces the Dennis ES-34R: In the ever-evolving landscape of sports turf management, combining sustainability and efficiency are becoming paramount for professionals like Colin Davie, Head Groundsman for Heart of Midlothian F.C.

In a recent move towards greener practices, Colin has invested in a Dennis ES-34R rotary mower, heralding a new era in pitch maintenance for the club.

Heart of Midlothian F.C. Embraces the Dennis ES-34R

Heart of Midlothian F.C. Embraces the Dennis ES-34R

Heart of Midlothian’s pitch, a state-of-the-art SIS hybrid pitch installed in 2018, demands meticulous care and attention. With only a small team comprising himself and assistant David, finding equipment that delivers both performance and reliability is essential. Colin’s journey towards embracing battery-powered equipment began with a growing awareness of the need to reduce the club’s carbon footprint.

“I feel that it is the correct way to go,” says Colin, reflecting on the shift towards battery-powered machinery. “I’m under pressure the whole time to move away from petrol equipment so it was about time to see what was out there.”

The decision to invest in the Dennis ES-34R was solidified after rigorous testing against other battery-powered rotary mowers. Colin notes, “I had a few electric rotaries on demonstration, one of them being the Dennis ES-34R, and the Dennis stood out by quite a way.”

The Dennis ES-34R, a 34″ (860mm) battery-powered twin-blade rotary mower, with lithium-ion battery technology has been designed for mowing and cleaning operations. Its contra-rotating hardened steel blades ensure maximum collection performance. Moreover, its weatherproof colour LCD programmable display and keypad provide operators like Colin with vital information, including ground speed and battery charge level.

Colin is full of praise for the ES-34R, citing its ease of use and long-lasting battery as standout features. “It’s nice not to have to go away to the garage and waste time having to get fuel,” he remarks. “I have every bit of faith that a battery will cut the whole pitch every time on a single charge.”

One of Colin’s favourite features is the toggle switch, which enhances usability. “My favourite feature on it is the toggle switch, which works like a clutch, so you operate that with your thumb, and it’s just very easy to use and manoeuvre the machine,” he explains.

While colin’s trusty Dennis G860 petrol cylinder mowers remain integral to matchday preparation, the ES-34R excels in cleaning up and achieving an impeccable finish. “They do a brilliant job at hoovering up all the debris,” Colin notes. “But the finish on the ES-34R is incredible too. You could use the ES-34R on a matchday to prepare the pitch; it is that good.

“I also like how you can control walking speed, cutting speed and adjust the height of cut very easily. It is a very good setup,” he concludes.

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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