Vandals Set Fire To Golf Course Twice In Four Days

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A Greenkeeper has blasted mindless vandals who deliberately set fire to a Barrhead golf course twice in four days.

Kevin Wilson hit out at the firebugs who caused two separate wildfires which left Fereneze Golf Club “scarred”. Emergency services were called to the course last Monday and Thursday to extinguish the flames, which caused smoke to billow across the Fereneze Braes.

A patch of grass at the 11th hole of the course was set ablaze in the first incident, while gorse which surrounds the greens was torched just a few days later.

Mr Wilson told the Barrhead News of the frustration he felt when he saw the damage.

He said: “It’s a very important part of the golf course they’ve burnt. Maybe it’s an act of maliciousness, I don’t know.

“The club’s got a history during the long summers of people coming up and having recreational fun.

“It only takes a match and the wind does the rest at this time of year. It just makes it looked scarred – it’s unsightly.

“They know for a fact what’s going to happen. They know when you get a dry area it will be a piece of cake to ignite.”

Although the golf club will not have to cover the costs of any damage, groundsmen will need to cut down the affected areas during the winter months – something which irks the greenkeeper, who spends each day trying to make the course look its best.

Mr Wilson added: “We don’t mind people coming up to enjoy the views but it’s a different matter when you get some kids or grown-ups who are having a drink and decided they will start a fire, without thinking of the consequences.

“The golf course is my pride and joy.

“It’s my livelihood and I take great pride in looking after this place.”

An investigation into the arson attacks has been continuing. Police said they will be upping patrols in the area to try to prevent any further incidents.

To read the original article from Barrhead News, click here

Work Starts On Preparing Burton Albion Pitch

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Work starts on preparing Burton Albion pitch for 2017/18 Championship season. It may only be a week since the season finished for Burton Albion, but work has already started on preparing the Pirelli Stadium pitch for next term.

The top surface was removed on Monday as Albion ground staff look to reproduce the quality of pitch that played host to some memorable games during the Brewers’ debut campaign in the Championship and held up well throughout the year.

That begins the process that head groundsman Simon Marshall hopes will be well on the way by the end of the week, by which point they are aiming to have re-seeded the pitch.

To read the original article from Burton Mail, click here

Highspeed Group’s Longest Serving Agent Retires

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Highspeed Group’s longest serving agent retires. Paul Dyter, now 82, who joined Highspeed as an agent in June 1993 has decided that after twenty four years’ service, the time is right for him to retire.

Highspeed Group’s longest serving agent retires.

Paul joined what was then Highspeed Lubricants Ltd., selling specialist oils and greases to golf courses in his area of South West England. Waste management services, workwear and wash area solutions followed and Paul developed good business for the company.

Paul became well known and liked by his customers and was instrumental in setting up the Course Care Cup in 1997 in the Wessex area covering parts of Hampshire, Wiltshire and the whole of Dorset. The purpose was to bring together secretaries and green keepers in a social event in the form of a match between the two groups. This has continued over the years with the support of Highspeed Group and has undoubtedly cemented relationships with customers. Acumen Waste, since their recent acquisition of Highspeed Group is keen to lend support. Financial Director Kris Sutton said: “The Course Care Cup is a great tradition and something we are very proud to continue with, offering sponsorship in support of this event. Paul Dyter served Highspeed well over a long period and we fully understand his decision to retire at this point. We wish him well.”

Commenting on Paul’s retirement, David Mears said: “Paul played an important part in developing business for the company over many years in his area. We would all like to record our thanks for his commitment and wish him well in his retirement.”

Ventrac Dealer Network Continues To Grow

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The UK Ventrac dealer network continues to grow with the appointment of SGM Contracts in Scotland. The family-run business is one of the leading providers of both groundcare and garden machinery, offering a range of products and related services to councils, contractors, turf maintenance professionals, golf clubs and domestic home gardeners.

Ventrac Dealer Network Continues To Grow

Based on the Belleknowes Industrial Estate, Inverkeithing near Edinburgh, SGM has an established customer base, including an extensive hire business featuring equipment from a number of the major manufacturers such as John Deere, Ransomes, Jacobsen, Toro and Scag.

Rupert Price, Managing Director of UK importers Price Turfcare said,

“From my point of view, I wanted a focused dealer who could give Ventrac the best possible coverage bearing in mind the product can be utilised in a multitude of markets, ranging from golf to contractors and municipal.  The product is particularly appealing to the hire market and therefore my first choice in Scotland is SGM, who I have known for many years.”

Managing Director of SGM, Steven McInroy, commenting on the agreement added,

“We are always on the lookout for niche, but quality products to add to our portfolio from both a sales and hire perspective and we are delighted to be promoting the product.

“Having visited the Price Turfcare stand at BTME earlier this year, Ewan Peddie, our Sales Manager, and myself, were very taken with the machine and its capabilities, particularly operating on banks and inclines, which is a real issue for the majority of our clients, particularly local authorities, private contractors and golf courses.

“Rupert very kindly brought a machine to Scotland for us to look at and immediately we were taken with its operating capabilities and quality and are delighted to have secured the franchise.”

 

Pleasant Point Pitch Vandalism Leaves Coaches Frustrated

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Pleasant Point Pitch Vandalism Leaves Coaches Frustrated. Vandals have torn up several sports fields and cricket pitches in the South Canterbury town of Pleasant Point, New Zealand – leaving teams upset and furious.

Police are investigating Monday’s incident, which one coach described as the worst damage he had ever seen.

Pleasant Point Cricket Club captain Cameron Lundie said a lot of people would be upset by what had happened.

“It’s just very gutting, especially the amount of work that’s gone into this new pitch, it’s had over $22,000 spent on it less than a year ago, a lot of work,” Lundie said.

The number one pitches for both the town’s football and cricket clubs, as well as the number two pitch and training pitches of the rugby club were all left with deep ruts dug into them.

Pleasant Point Constable Kris Howes said in addition to the fields being damaged part of one of the football goals was driven into, ripping netting off its fastenings.

Howes said a local resident reported hearing a vehicle between 2.45am and 3am “revving and carrying on”.

“They could see the lights coming on and off… they probably turned them on to see if they had collided with the posts.”

Howes said the football pitch had previously suffered damage on a “minor scale”.

“Even on the golf course next door they have never done this sort of damage. They might come in and do a couple of skids and then go, they have probably been here for a good half an hour.”

Howes said it could “possibly” be someone local, given the person had known to avoid the barrier of wooden logs placed around the pitches, and the car was seen heading in the direction of Pleasant Point.

The vehicle was “going to have some damage and it’s going to be filthy”.

Howes said it was “idiotic” behaviour. “It’s just brainless. The guys at the cricket field have spent weeks and months getting it sorted and up to standard.”

A piece of the vehicle was left behind at the scene. A Timaru District Council spokesman said while the vandalism was “very disappointing”, contractors had started working on fixing the sports fields.

He said the majority of the damage should not stop teams from playing sport there this week.

Pleasant Point Cricket Club groundsman Chris Murphy said the worst thing about it the damage is because it was winter the club can’t do anything about it. “We can’t touch the cricket pitch now until spring.”

Pleasant Point cricket and football coach Mike Otley decried the “absolutely senseless damage”.

“It does happen occasionally but it’s been a while since it’s happened,” Otley said.

“It’s probably the worst damage I have seen.”

To read the original article from Stuff, click here