ThatchEater provides a biological solution for better winter greens

ThatchEater provides a biological solution for better winter greens

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ThatchEater provides a biological solution for better winter greens

Having spent 38 years at Grimsby Golf Club, Head Greenkeeper Scott Vincent has seen every challenge the British climate can throw at a golf course – particularly during wet winters. With member expectations for year-round play, and only four greens equipped with drainage systems, achieving consistency and keeping on top of organic matter accumulations was becoming a particular problem. That was until Scott trialled ThatchEater from Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS).

ThatchEater provides a biological solution for better winter greens

ThatchEater provides a biological solution for better winter greens

Built in 1922, Grimsby Golf Club provides players with a parkland challenge – the 18-holes traversing rolling hills and valleys which is rather unique for the area. With a small team of just three greenkeepers, Scott has traditionally focused on tried and tested practical solutions to common maintenance challenges, with hollow coring forming a major part of the club’s thatch management strategy, often carried out three or four times a year. While effective, the disruption caused lead Scott to a conversation with OAS Technical Manager Greg Milton about potential, less invasive alternatives.

“Being completely honest, having done the job for a long time and using products that haven’t turned out to deliver what they say they would, it takes a lot for me to try something you can’t physically see working”, admits Scott. “Greg did a great job of explaining how the product works, which encouraged me to give it a try.”

“I think the fact that Greg was a greenkeeper in a former life and was armed with all the information regarding the product really reassured us that he’s not just trying to make a sale. He has our course’s best interests at heart.”

ThatchEater is a biological solution designed to degrade thatch with bacteria, causing minimal disruption to play. Traditionally applied in spring, the humus, humic and fulvic acids produced convert thatch into plant-available nutrients, creating a freer-draining rootzone and encouraging sustainable plant growth through the season.

After just one application, and another very wet winter, Scott says the results became quickly noticeable. “We definitely saw a marked reduction in thatch accumulations compared to previous years and I strongly believe ThatchEater played a role in keeping us off temporary greens for the first year in a long while.” He continues, “The members also noticed the difference, especially because we haven’t been conducting the disruptive hollow coring.”

Independent sampling carried out by Greg echoed the results seen by the team, showing continued improvement in the greens’ condition and giving Scott further confidence of the longer-term benefits. “Now into the second year of the programme, we’re excited to build on the results and, all being well, see this becoming a key component of our wider OAS nutritional programme which is already delivering fantastic results in other areas of the course.”

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Agrigem Welcomes Greg Holden as Horticulture Sales Manager

Agrigem Welcomes Greg Holden as Horticulture Sales Manager

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Agrigem Welcomes Greg Holden as Horticulture Sales Manager

Agrigem, a leading UK supplier of amenity and horticultural products, is delighted to announce the appointment of Greg Holden as our new Horticulture Sales Manager. Greg joins the Agrigem trade team to focus on expanding and strengthening our offer across the commercial horticulture and nursery supply sectors.

Agrigem Welcomes Greg Holden as Horticulture Sales Manager

Agrigem Welcomes Greg Holden as Horticulture Sales Manager

Greg brings extensive industry expertise, with a proven track record at leading organisations including Vitax, N-Virol, and Thomas Elliott. His deep understanding of nursery supplies, and the needs of commercial growers will be instrumental as Agrigem continues to grow its trade footprint.

Speaking on his new role, Greg commented: “I’m so pleased to be joining Agrigem at such an exciting time for the division. The sector is facing significant challenges around climate change, environmental demands, and ecological shift. I’m keen to help shape our evolving product ranges to ensure we consistently deliver on our customers’ expectations.

“It’s been incredible to watch Agrigem grow over the years into a brand so widely respected for its technical expertise and broad product range. I look forward to helping maximise the opportunities ahead and making a positive difference for both our customers and the business.”

A stronger presence in the horticulture sector complements Agrigem’s current trade offers in sports, equine, forestry, leisure, lawncare and turf growing. Please join us in giving Greg a warm welcome to the Agrigem family!

You can reach out to Greg directly at greg.holden@agrigem.co.uk to discuss your commercial horticulture requirements.

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ProSport UK Puts Quality of Cut at the Heart of GroundsFest Display

ProSport UK Puts Quality of Cut at the Heart of GroundsFest Display

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ProSport UK Puts Quality of Cut at the Heart of GroundsFest Display

ProSport UK will put quality of cut at the centre of its GroundsFest display as it brings the Foley 672 Accu-Pro AT and 642 Quick-Spin Reel Grinder to Stand 46.

ProSport UK Puts Quality of Cut at the Heart of GroundsFest Display

ProSport UK Puts Quality of Cut at the Heart of GroundsFest Display

Listed under the Foley Company name, ProSport will demonstrate how accurate bedknife and reel grinding can improve cutting performance, turf presentation, and workshop efficiency.

The Foley 672 Accu-Pro AT semi-automatic bedknife grinder has been designed to deliver consistent results while simplifying setup and operation. Fast angle positioning, electromagnetic mounting, and a precision traverse system help operators achieve an accurate grind across a wide range of bedknives.

Alongside it, the floor-level Foley 642 Quick-Spin provides a practical solution for touch-up spin grinding between scheduled relief grinds. Its roll-on, roll-off design removes the need for lifting equipment, making it particularly suited to the wider and heavier cutting units commonly used on sports pitches.

Capable of accommodating reels up to 42 inches wide, the 642 allows operators to restore a sharp cutting edge quickly, helping to reduce machinery downtime and preserve the reel-to-bedknife relationship required for a clean, consistent cut.

For facilities managing demanding mowing schedules, in-house grinding gives workshop teams greater control over when cutting units are serviced. Reels and bedknives can be maintained as part of a planned programme rather than waiting for cutting performance to decline, helping machinery return to work quickly and deliver a consistently high-quality finish throughout the season.

Together, the two machines demonstrate a complementary approach to sharpening, combining accurate bedknife grinding with fast reel touch-ups. Visitors to Stand 46 will be able to speak with ProSport UK Managing Director Ian Robson about their existing grinding arrangements, workshop requirements, and the most suitable approach for their machinery fleet.

As Foley Company’s UK dealer, ProSport provides grinding machinery, technical knowledge, and ongoing support to customers across the professional turf industry. Its offering also includes Salsco petrol and electric greens rollers, which it distributes throughout the UK following Foley Company’s acquisition of Salsco.

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Specialist Solutions Take Centre Stage for Campey

Specialist Solutions Take Centre Stage for Campey

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Specialist Solutions Take Centre Stage for Campey

Campey Turf Care Systems will return to GroundsFest this September on Stand 35, showcasing a carefully selected line-up of machinery tailored to the turf maintenance needs of landscapers, local authorities and contractors.

Specialist Solutions Take Centre Stage for Campey

Specialist Solutions Take Centre Stage for Campey

As maintenance programmes become more targeted and closely monitored, with grounds professionals increasingly accountable, Campey is focused on providing specialist equipment that enables individual operations to be carried out with maximum precision and efficiency.

Leading the display is the Rotadairon Stone Burier, a new addition to the Campey portfolio. Designed to produce a high-quality seedbed in a single pass, the machine buries stones, vegetation and surface debris beneath the cultivated layer while leaving fine soil on the surface ready for seeding or turf establishment. By combining cultivation, levelling and consolidation into one operation, it offers contractors and turf professionals an efficient solution for sports turf construction, renovation and landscaping projects.

The remainder of the stand continues the specialist theme. The Vredo Turf Buddy and Vredo Turf Fix demonstrate different approaches to overseeding and turf repair, helping grounds professionals improve establishment while minimising disruption to play. For operations where accuracy and timing are critical, the Campey Pedestrian Aeraseeder combines aeration and seeding in a single pass, while the Campey Electric Sarel Roller offers a lightweight, battery-powered approach to surface aeration, reflecting the growing demand for quieter, lower-emission maintenance equipment.

Individually, each machine has a clearly defined purpose. Collectively, they illustrate how turf maintenance is evolving. As expectations of playing surfaces continue to increase, success is often achieved not through one machine that does everything, but through specialist equipment designed to perform individual tasks exceptionally well. Whether establishing new surfaces, encouraging recovery or carrying out routine maintenance, these machines are built to complement existing equipment fleets and provide grounds teams with greater flexibility throughout the year.

Visitors to the Campey stand will be able to see each machine up close and discuss their applications with the company’s team, discovering how specialist equipment can make a significant difference to the quality and efficiency of modern turf management.

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