EIGCA Announces Three New Partners

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EIGCA announces three new Partners. The European Institute of Golf Course Architects announced the addition of three new Bronze partners during their Annual Meeting in the Costa del Sol.

EIGCA Announces Three New Partners

The three companies, Atlantic Golf Construction, EcoBunker and Progolf join six other companies that have joined the EIGCA’s Partner Programme in the last 12 months.

Commenting on the addition of the new Partners incoming President Ross McMurray said “We extremely pleased to welcome so many new Partners with such a diverse area of expertise. We have seen a dramatic growth in our Partner programme over the last year as companies are increasingly recognising the value of being associated with the EIGCA. Our Partners gain unrivalled direct access to Europe’s foremost golf course architects and our members profit from the Partners involvement with our annual conference, CPD and other educational events”

Atlantic Golf Construction is a golf course construction company offering turn-key construction and grow-in services that pride themselves on their attention to detail. Based in Ballybunion, Ireland they have worked extensively throughout the country but have also completed projects in the UK and continental Europe.

Ecobunker specialises in producing bunker edging product that are designed to be more resilient that traditional methods of bunker construction. Designed to replicate traditional revetted turf edges the bunker edging product has been installed on nearly 100 golf courses in 16 countries.

Progolf is a golf course construction company that have completed both new and renovation projects in Europe, the Middle East and most recently in Brazil. With offices in both Portugal and Brasil Progolf also offers golf course grow-in and maintenance services along with the ability to provide irrigation and drainage design and has delivered a range of infrastructure projects.

he meeting also saw awards made to long-term Partners Rain Bird, John Deere and Tanto International Golf for their 15 years’ of support. The three Partners join previous recipients The Toro Company, Ransomes Jacobsen, John Greasley Ltd and MJ Abbott Ltd in receiving the long standing partnership award.

Following the presentation EIGCA President Tom Mackenzie said, “I am absolutely delighted that we are able to recognise the long term support and commitment of these three Industry Partners. I hope that these awards go some way to demonstrating the gratitude of our membership and how much we value their ongoing partnership with the EIGCA”.

Responding Rain Bird International Sales Manager Mohan Subramanian said, “Rain Bird is proud to be associated with EIGCA and to participate in their various educational and sustainability programs. The architects are a critical part of the Golf Course Industry and we at Rain Bird are committed to work closely with this community to ensure the best courses are built around the world. We look forward to many more years of a fruitful partnership with EIGCA”.

Seeing Is Believing At Brickendon Grange Golf Club

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Seeing Is Believing At Brickendon Grange Golf Club. Two new Otterbine aerating fountains to celebrate golden jubilee.

Seeing Is Believing At Brickendon Grange Golf Club

There’s nothing like a bit of ingenuity to bring in the results, as Lewis Mattholie, deputy greenkeeper at Brickendon Grange Golf Club, can attest to. And the result is two new beauty spots for the club’s golfers to enjoy.

With its 17th hole voted the Greatest Amateur Hole in the UK in the 2016 Grass Roots Golf competition, Lewis and the team at the Hertfordshire club wanted all the club’s holes to be equal.

And with the problem of slightly stagnating water in two of the ponds flanking the eighth and eighteenth holes to solve, and the occasion of the club’s 50th anniversary to mark, Lewis decided it was time to tackle the problem.

“The water in two of our ponds needed some TLC,” Lewis tells us. “The water was stagnating a little and starting to smell. I knew the answer was an aerator, but as with most things in life it’s a bit of hard sell to get people to buy into something they can’t see.

“I figured I could quite easily create a makeshift unit with a hose and end plug to demonstrate the affect of a fountain, so I went ahead and made one!”

The result was the management committee could instantly see how a fountain would rejuvenate the two holes by bringing beauty and tranquillity to them, essentially creating two new beauty spots for golfers to enjoy.

And by choosing Otterbine’s Fractional five-in-one aerating system, which combines beauty with function, the club not only benefits from two new beauty spots, but improved water quality too.

The Fractional can be relied upon to keep the ecosystem of any smaller area of water in perfect balance thanks to its ability to transfer an impressive 1kg/2.2lbs of oxygen per hp/hr and its pumping rate of 115m3/ph.

Lewis says: “The water quality has vastly improved. Gone is the problem of stagnating and smelling water, which was perfect timing for the club’s 50th anniversary!”

As we’ve mentioned, the idea for the project came about to mark the occasion of the club’s 50th anniversary in 2016 and one member of the club was so taken with the idea they offered to step in and pay for both fountains! Which leads us to ponder the club’s nickname of the ‘ace of Herts’. While we know it’s so named for its geographical location, with such kind-hearted members we wonder if it’s more appropriately named the ‘ace of hearts’!

Leicester Groundsman Cuts Club Crest Into Centre Circle

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Leicester Groundsman Cuts Club Crest Into Centre Circle. Current Premier League champions Leicester are preparing to hand over their trophy to Chelsea this weekend, but when it comes to pitch designs, the Foxes are still riding high at the top.

Craig Shakespeare’s side travel to Manchester City this weekend, but they still have two fixtures remaining at the King Power Stadium – starting with Tottenham on May 18 before the visit of Bournemouth three days later.

With their Premier League status secured courtesy of the 3-0 victory over Watford last weekend, the Midlands club can enjoy their final three games this season with their sights set on a top-half finish.

But while Shakespeare puts his squad through their paces at their Belvoir Drive training base, the club’s groundsmen have been busy perfecting  their latest design at the home ground.

Leicester’s performance against the Hornets last Saturday was every bit as immaculate as the playing surface, with an eye-catching design from chief groundsman John Ledwidge receiving plaudits for the state of the pitch heading into the summer break.

The club have developed a reputation for entertaining their opponents on surfaces akin to a bowling green, with the designs on show during last season’s surge to their first domestic league title catching the eye just as much as the side’s displays.

Having acknowledged the praise for his circular-themed offering against WalterMazzarri’s side, Ledwidge has taken his love for pitch patterns to the next level – by fashioning the club

Ledwidge and his team were hosting New Ground Technology for a European Stadium and Safety Management Association (ESSMA) workshop on Wednesday, and the Leicester groundsmanager was eager to use the equipment out on the pitch.

After several hours of careful trimming, the ‘Van Gogh of football pitches’ revealed his latest masterpiece, with the intricate details of the club’s circular crest, complete with the face of a fox and ‘Leicester City Football Club’, cut into the surface.

The Foxes will soon be dethroned as Premier League champions, but the club appear determined to end the season with the accolade for Grounds Team of the Year.

Aston Villa scooped the award last season despite relegation to the Championship, but Leicester – along with Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham were highly recommended.

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Jurgen Klopp Bemoans Pitch After Third Home Game Without Win

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Jurgen Klopp bemoans Anfield’s pitch after third successive home game without a win. Liverpool made it three home games in a row without a win, held to a 0-0 draw by Southampton for the second time this season.

Jurgen Klopp admitted post-match his frustration at the result, but insisted it was a point gained in the race for the top four – a race which still remains in the Reds’ hands thanks to Arsenal beating Man United.

Liverpool’s home form though, failing to beat Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Southampton in consecutive games at Anfield, is a major concern for supporters.

Klopp also highlighted how dry the Anfield pitch was – a pitch that was due to replaced two years ago but has had to wait due to the ongoing construction of the new Main Stand.

“Today the pitch was really dry. We gave all the water we had and after 15 minutes it was really dry. It was difficult and with a lot of passes you could say, ‘Why are they playing this?’.

“In a home game you have to have the best circumstances but we couldn’t have this.”

Liverpool, despite their poor form since January, are still two wins away from qualifying for the Champions League – away to West Ham and at home to Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile, Anfield’s pitch will be replaced this summer. In the last two years it was only re-seeded due to the access required by cranes while the new Main Stand was built.

Brendan Rodgers frequently bemoaned the pitch in 2014/15, once describing it as “awful” and saying: “It is an old pitch that has not been upgraded for some years and it can be a disadvantage for us. It is difficult to play one-touch football on it.”

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Greenkeeper Takes Up Role As ECB Pitch Adviser

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Falmouth Greenkeeper Takes Up Role As ECB Pitch Adviser. Cornwall Cricket is delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Johnson, Head Greenkeeper at Falmouth Golf Club, and Head Groundsman at Mount Ambrose CC as its new named ECB Pitch Adviser.

Greenkeeper Takes Up Role As ECB Pitch Adviser

Simon has more than thirty years’ relevant experience and has prepared pitches for Minor Counties’ games while at Camborne CC.

Kevin O’Kelly, who has been the ECB Pitch Adviser for the last five years, has agreed to stay on in an active role and assist Simon in his new position.

Simon Menneer, Cornwall Cricket CEO, said: “This is an excellent outcome for Cornish cricket. We have gained the services for the long-term of an outstanding and respected expert in his field, and retained the valuable services of our outgoing Pitch Adviser which will ensure continuity.”

The ECB Pitch Advisory Scheme is funded by Sport England and ECB, and represents the first governing body to address the issue of groundsmanship, in particular at recreational / non-professional level.

The project is to place 45 County Pitch Advisers across England and Wales and for their activities to be fully embraced into the work of County Cricket Boards.

Roles of a Pitch Adviser:

1. To advise on the quality performance of specific pitches / squares and produce recommendations (where necessary) for any improvements, which may include grant aid schemes (Prioritised Detailed Assessment).

2. To monitor the developments of any facilities on which recommendations are being implemented.

3. Available, if required, to assess pitches / squares in respect of various league criteria.

4. Create a response team for basic assessments.

5. Help build an effective Groundmanship Association.’

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