It’s elementary with the Dennis PRO 34R

It’s elementary with the Dennis PRO 34R: Head groundsman Garry Watson and his deputy John Holmes have praised the Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower for keeping several grass areas in fantastic condition at the King Edward’s School in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Founded in 1552, King Edward’s School is one of the most successful boys’ schools in this country. For nearly 400 years the school stood in New Street at the heart of the city. In 1936 the school moved to its present 50-acre site in Edgbaston, shared with King Edward VI High School for Girls, which provides extensive space and facilities matched by few day schools in the country.

It’s elementary with the Dennis PRO 34R

It’s elementary with the Dennis PRO 34R

The school’s academic performance places it amongst the very best in the country and King Edward’s has a long list of notable alumni including two Nobel Prize-winners, JRR Tolkien, Edward Burne-Jones, Lord Willetts and Lee Child.

The grounds department is overseen by Garry, who has been working at the school for an incredible 35 years. Alongside his trusty deputy John Holmes, the duo recently began searching for a new rotary mower.

“We were previously using 20-inch mowers and we wanted something bigger so we could cut more regularly and more quickly,” said Garry. “We also wanted an alternative to that of putting tractors or triple mowers on the pitches – something that would keep the weight off the pitch.”

The case was solved as soon as they saw the Dennis PRO 34R in action: “As soon as we had the demonstration, John said this is it – this is the machine we need to have. Yes, there are other rotary mowers on the market, but we made a decision there and then based on how good it was.”

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

“The PRO 34R offers a fantastic cut,” continued Garry. “It is predominately used on the rugby pitches for presentation and to also clean-up after matches.

“After about a week of having the PRO 34R, we made the decision to purchase another one – it was that good. It is absolutely fantastic for sports pitches, but we also have a large number of big lawns – which must be kept in good condition. Therefore, the second PRO 34R is all about presentation on these lawns. We use it for cutting and striping.”

Garry also said that the decision to purchase the PRO 34R was based on his experience of using Dennis in the past.

“We’ve had Dennis before, and I’ve never had any issues, so I tend to stick with what I know works. Plus, the service is all part of the overall package with Dennis.

“I like to deal with personalities and Jason Briggs from Dennis and SISIS is fantastic. I know what I like – and Dennis Mowers have never let me down.”

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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ICL Tank-Mix is the perfect family

ICL Tank-Mix is the perfect family: Three years ago, Mark Heath, Course Manager at the Vale Golf Club in Worcestershire, introduced a new ICL tank-mix into his greens’ maintenance programme. A resounding success – he now affectionately calls it the perfect family.  

The Vale Golf Club is set in a beautiful part of the Midlands countryside and offers great views over the Malvern hills. It is a real challenge to keen golfers and provides extensive facilities including a par 74, 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole shorter course.

ICL Tank-Mix is the perfect family

ICL Tank-Mix is the perfect family

“Managing the 27 greens we have at the Vale Golf Club takes commitment and trust in the products that I use on a monthly basis,” said Mark. “With this in mind I was looking to make some improvements and three years ago I changed my greens nutrition programme to a combination of Vitalnova Stressbuster, Greenmaster Liquid CalMag and Vitalnova SeaMax. I have never once regretted this decision.”

These three products perfectly complement one another: Vitalnova Stressbuster pre-conditions turf against stress, helps generate a quick recovery and helps stimulate the bacteria in the soil; Greenmaster Liquid CalMag has been proven to boost turf health where Calcium and Magnesium are required; and Vitalnova SeaMax, which contains seaweed extract, works towards improving improve turf colour, turf quality, root development and stress tolerance.

Throughout the summer period, Mark combines Vitalnova Stressbuster at 40 L/ha, Greenmaster Liquid CalMag at 20 L/ha and Seamax at 10 L/ha and he further explained how this winning formula works for him.

“This tank-mix not only delivers a steady growth pattern daily but also provides a total healthy package to both the root and the leaf itself. The three products mixed together gives amino acid for leaf / foliar uptake needed in times of stress; Calcium & Magnesium to boost the plant and promote it to stay healthy; and a concentrated seaweed that improves turf colour but also aids root development. When winter arrives, I simply reduce the application rates by half

“This year I’ve also added Syngenta’s Ryder at 1 L/ha to the mix,” he continued, “It is a great turf pigment which helps to combat recent high daily temperatures. It’s a bit like a sun cream for turf and it works wonders.

“This tank-mix has improved the greens no end and it is for this reason that I think of these products as the perfect family – my greens truly embrace them!”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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Carnoustie partners with John Deere and Rain Bird

Carnoustie partners with John Deere and Rain Bird: Three global brands with shared values have united with a vision to produce a blueprint for world leading golf course management – watch our special video and interviews, and download photos here: https://3globalbrands.com/video/.

Carnoustie, ‘Golf’s Greatest Test’, has a long history of firsts and is regarded as the ancestral home of American and Australian golf. ‘The Carnoustie 300’ – a group of club and ball makers, professionals, caddies and greenkeepers – took golf to the New World in the early 1900s, and paved the way for the growth, development and modernisation of the game.

Carnoustie partners with John Deere and Rain Bird

Carnoustie partners with John Deere and Rain Bird

Carnoustie Golf Links, having established itself as a flagship for innovation and sustainable management, has now joined forces with Rain Bird and John Deere and the trio are committed to continuing a heritage of innovation by aligning world leading irrigation, turf care and greenkeeping expertise in a major strategic partnership for the golf industry.

The three organisations all share long and impressive histories built on innovation, and are combining their strengths in this landmark partnership which will see a major investment in irrigation, greenkeeping and development of the game of golf at Carnoustie.

As the global leader in irrigation, Rain Bird has a rich history in the golf community dating back to 1933. Since then, irrigation and the management and movement of water have remained its sole focus. Trusted by golf course managers, its technologically advanced irrigation systems enable them to perfect playing surfaces at iconic sporting venues around the world.

Rain Bird is committed to ‘The Intelligent Use of Water’ through its products, partnerships, leadership and education. Research and development teams work with greenkeeping teams and technicians to develop forward-thinking water, energy and labour-saving innovations. More than 450 patents confirm the strength of its commitment to delivering solutions that set the standard for playability and performance while preserving the planet’s most precious natural resource.

Following a topographical system analysis and other investigations conducted by specialist consultants, Carnoustie Golf Links, supported by Rain Bird UK’s golf distributor Rigby Taylor, will embark on a full renovation of each of its courses to upgrade them with the most advanced irrigation technologies. They will benefit from Rain Bird’s Cirrus Central Control System combined with Integrated Control™ (IC), which enables sophisticated real-time, two-way communications between the control system and other components. This will provide Links Superintendent Craig Boath and his team with the ultimate in field control.

Assisted by Rain Bird Golf’s UK team, they will fine-tune the new system to continually monitor conditions across the Links and apply the precise amount of irrigation each area needs. The Central Control generates a significant amount of data to help inform course management decisions, enabling staff to optimise turfgrass performance and drive efficiencies.

Carnoustie partners with John Deere and Rain Bird

Carnoustie partners with John Deere and Rain Bird

John Deere is fully committed to the manufacture and independent dealer support of advanced, innovative equipment and precision technology for the world’s best golf courses, supported by flexible John Deere Financial solutions. The company has a long history of pioneering innovation that enables customers to optimise their machinery operations while reducing both costs and environmental impact.

John Deere was the first manufacturer to introduce hybrid electric cutting reel technology and now offers the widest range of hybrid greens and fairway mowers in the industry, including the brand new 2750E ride-on triplex, of which there are 12 in the new Carnoustie Golf Links fleet, supplied by local dealer Double A. These machines reduce both noise and fuel consumption as well as the risk of hydraulic oil leaks.

In addition, A Series mowers feature the password-protected TechControl system, which allows the course or fleet manager to set equipment up for consistent cutting, turning and transport speeds to achieve the desired course finish regardless of who operates the machines.

John Deere is also a world leader in GPS automatic guidance technology and vehicle telematics, developed over the past 20 years for its agricultural business. This advanced technology is now becoming available for golf and turf customers, through the new GPS PrecisionSprayer – Carnoustie has three of the first machines to be sold in Europe, which apply inputs more accurately and record spraying operations for environmental purposes – and the development of autonomous mowing equipment.

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GKB the top choice for Solihull School

GKB the top choice for Solihull School: Based in the West Midlands, leading independent coeducational day school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18, Solihull School houses ample playing fields, a full-sized floodlight artificial turf pitch and a 25m swimming pool.

With pupils excelling on the sports field as well as in the classroom, the GKB Top Clean was the perfect choice for Karl Brotherhood, Head of Grounds, to help upkeep the impressive outdoor spaces.

GKB the top choice for Solihull School

GKB the top choice for Solihull School

Through side-by-side comparison of his current machine and having met with the UK Operations Director, Tom Shinkins, at SALTEX 2019, Karl said, “the GKB Top-Clean was the obvious and right choice.” Designed as a full self-driven machine, the GKB Top-Clean can remove all kinds of dirt from the top of a synthetic pitch, from cigarettes, leaves and papers to plastic bottles.

The machine can easily be connected to almost every tractor by using a standard three-point hitch or electric drawbar and using a high driving speed (around 10 km/h) the artificial pitches will be left in perfect condition. “I will use the GKB Top-Clean to clean two national spec sand dressed hockey pitches,” said Karl. The GKB Top-Clean also features two rubber wheels at the front to ensure that the machine will roll softly across the desired artificial pitch.

With clever engineering and innovative manufacturing, the GKB Top-Clean features a vibrating sieve which, during operation, will hold debris and infill. The sieve will separate infill material from the debris and thanks to the vibration, all the pollution will move to the bins at the end. Containing two separate bins, after use, the bins can easily be removed to get emptied in a regular waste container.

Describing GKB as innovative, quality-driven and supportive, Karl comments, “When I think of GKB, I think build-quality. I know that if I have any problems further down the line, I will also have ‘back-up.’ I first noticed the GKB brand at SALTEX and was very impressed with Tom’s knowledge of all the machines present. It was refreshing”.

For more on GKB Machines and their reliable and robust range of machinery for natural, hybrid and synthetic turf, please visit www.gkbmachines.com or contact Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617.

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BIGGA teams up with RSPB and The R&A

BIGGA teams up with RSPB and The R&A: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association has established a formal relationship with the RSPB and The R&A’s partnership that will see the association explore collaborative opportunities to increase awareness and support for biodiversity conservation on golf courses.

The greenkeeper association’s relationship with the RSPB and The R&A will help facilitate mainstream wildlife conservation on golf courses, by promoting best practice and providing inspiration for greenkeeping teams who would like to promote biodiversity at their golf facilities. RSPB Business Conservation Advisor Dr Marie Athorn will present at BIGGA educational events including its flagship event, Continue to Learn, and offer help and advice for greenkeeping teams to make the most of the opportunities for the promotion of ecology on their golf courses.

BIGGA teams up with RSPB and The R&A

BIGGA teams up with RSPB and The R&A

The relationship and the BIGGA platform will also be used to raise awareness and encourage participation in partnership case studies and research, such as trialling management of nature-based solutions. BIGGA will also support the RSPB and The R&A in achieving the partnership’s goals by providing support whenever possible, such as by hosting guidance notes on the BIGGA website.

James Hutchinson, BIGGA’s Membership Services Manager for Ecology and Sustainability, said: “We consider this relationship to be of tremendous importance as BIGGA, The R&A and the rest of the golf industry seeks to alter the perception of those who believe golf courses as detrimental to the environment. Golf courses constitute large areas of mixed habitats, from areas of trees, heathland, wildflower meadows, wetland habitat and even bunkers and, as such, they play a hugely important role in preserving the UK’s under threat wildlife species.

“Turf professionals everywhere have an awareness of their role as stewards of the wider landscape and we’re looking forward to working closely with The R&A and RSPB to promote best practice and in turn provide more habitats for Britain’s wildlife to enjoy alongside the nation’s golfers.”

Dr Marie Athorn, RSPB Business Conservation Officer, said: “It is great that BIGGA are giving their full support to the partnership between the RSPB and The R&A. The partnership, funded by The R&A, has a fantastic opportunity to encourage and facilitate nature conservation on golf courses. With the support of organisations like BIGGA the partnership can reach the passionate and knowledgeable greenkeepers across the UK to showcase the amazing work they are already doing for nature and provide the expertise to those who want to start on their journey to helping nature on their golf course.

“With over 3,000 golf courses in the UK the golf industry is in an amazing position to support nature conservation on a landscape scale. With many golf courses being located in close proximity to densely populated areas, golf courses, if well managed for nature, can provide connectivity across an increasingly urban landscape. Regional BIGGA networks provide an exciting opportunity for golf courses and their greenkeepers to work together to support nature, whether that be a particular species in decline or to restore habitat that supports common and rare species alike.”

Steve Isaac, The R&A’s Director – Sustainability, said: “The partnership between The R&A and the RSPB has set out a number of key work areas that will contribute towards the protection of habitats and wildlife on golf courses across the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the health benefits golfers and other users of golf courses gain from enjoying recreation surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. However, the aims of the partnership will only prove successful and enhance the natural value of golf courses if they are delivered on the ground. Greenkeepers will, obviously, play a vital role in this and the relationship between the partnership and BIGGA provides exciting opportunities we all have for golf and nature. We are delighted that BIGGA has joined this initiative and feel that this reflects the values that many greenkeepers put into practice as the custodians of wildlife on our golf courses.”

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A Case Study……Is this the new normal!

A Case Study……Is this the new normal!: Craig Earnshaw, course manager at Harleyford GC in Buckinghamshire is a man on a mission and has been fast to embrace the modern approach to managing, communicating and training that today’s advancing technology can offer.

Communicating daily tasks to the team was always a fundamental activity practised by Craig but he felt that this could not only be improved but made more relevant in the digital age where everyone has a mobile phone and many have tablets. Craig’s aim was never to replace the daily verbal brief, however, when looking at digital software systems and what they can offer, the digital whiteboard aspect and the power of reporting and communicating remotely was an area of significant interest. Having looked at various options, Craig decided TurfKeeper offered exactly what he was looking for and saw that the system offered a major leap forward in complementing what he was doing on a verbal, face to face or messaging on a whiteboard basis. On a more personal note Craig says “the system has helped his communication as he is dyslexic and no longer has to rely on his deputy to write up his instructions on the white board” He continues, “This harnessing of digital technology benefits him as a manager, his team and therefore ultimately the club.”

A Case Study……Is this the new normal!

A Case Study……Is this the new normal!

To start with, a large screen TV was installed in the clubs new maintenance facility and with the use of the digital whiteboard feature the day’s pre-plan activity can be done online and displayed. This is then is keyed into the system and displayed on the TV so the whole team can see what has been assigned; any key notes, machinery and stock to be used is also displayed as well as the weather forecast and such important direction of cut details for any area are to mowed.

“A key to success of this system” states Craig, “has been the staff ‘buy in’ and them seeing the benefits beyond the traditional whiteboard and pen. It also offers the ability to view the tasks out on the course via the phone and this has not just increased efficiency and productivity, but has been a real game changer during the Covid-19 crisis.”

Craig continues, “Using the TurfKeeper system, we have been able to plan and communicate from a far. The team can log onto the system and know what task or activity is required even before they arrive at work, in some cases even before they leave home!

A Case Study……Is this the new normal!

A Case Study……Is this the new normal!

Avoiding close contact during this pandemic is a must and by utilising modern technology such as this, we have been able to work around it. If I am out on the course and forget to add anything or maybe a new task has cropped up, the web based TurfKeeper technology allows the inputting of a task via the phone and have it appear on everyone else’s, including also the jobs board.”

The TurfKeeper ethos is directed towards the modern, digital, web-based way of planning, recording and communicating. There is nothing wrong with a paper diary and handwriting, but when you need quick fire information to fan out the flames, the digital approach delivers with speed and ease.

Craig continues, “Take for example the pre-Covid-19 situation. Seven staff members working 40 Hrs per week at a total of 280 Hrs. In a usual year, bunkers need daily raking, greens rolled 2-3 times per week, empting bins, ball washer and moving tee blocks prior to cutting and all that jazz. And oh yes…..of course…working around the golf!. When all the aforementioned is factored in, this takes a huge amount of time, and hence the good reason why we need all the staff.

A Case Study……Is this the new normal!

A Case Study……Is this the new normal!

“Now cue Furlough…no need to cut daily, certainly minimal to zero rolling or bunker raking. No course furniture to move or service in the way of bins and ball washers, and oh yes…….no golfers.  Never have courses been easier to maintain in terms of bare minimum and cutting. No golf to work around, so less waiting time and the result….cutting the time in half it usually takes to mow most of the areas. Cue now to the inquisitions….do we need that many staff members? Course looks good to me and there is only 3 of you. what did you do with all those labour hours before?

“These are not unreasonable question to be fair”, comments Craig. “We are lucky in the fact that staff numbers have not been brought into question. I did get asked how come we can get everything cut with only 3 staff but it was a light hearted comment. None the less, that is where the advent of modern technology plays it part. Unlike a traditional paper diary, I can just enter a date range, click a button and the data instantly; all the labour hours, costs, effort, stock used etc. Looking through the reports, I can balance off last year v this year and communicate to the board exactly where all of the hours go, as the reports detail every last task. It’s very clear to see how long bunkers took this year v last year or even identify work that hasn’t needed to be done. It really helps to hammer home the facts.”

“So to sum it all up, it’s quite simple for me” states Craig. “I rely heavily on irrigation software system, digital moisture meters and various other technological tools to monitor surface performance, so why not also other aspect of the job?

TurfKeeper allows me to extend the technological side of management and communication but in addition, the planning, budgeting, stock control, machinery maintenance and reporting.  Such a system is a valuable asset and working example of the technology we should all be embracing in the modern age in which we now operate.”

The greenkeeping team at Harleyford Golf Club in Buckinghamshire won the 2019 BIGGA Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year award for its incredible performance in preparing the course for The Matchroom Sport Championship.

A Case Study……Is this the new normal!

A Case Study……Is this the new normal!

TurfKeeper is a web based management system that provides turf industry professionals a fully integrated operations and management solution. Designed by turf industry professionals, the system, in a completely personalised, single environment, provides complete control over and insight into staff management, task planning, machinery management, inventory control, chemical applications planning and recording, and budgeting & expense management. With detailed reporting on all areas readily available, and a resource library provision, the system becomes the home of all turf management planning, actions, and facility history.

www.turfkeeper.com

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