INFINICUT® mowers enter Home Park two by two

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INFINICUT® mowers enter Home Park two by two: A recent upgrade to the mower fleet at Plymouth Argyle Football Club has seen the delivery of two INFINICUT® 34” FX cylinders and two SM34 rotary mowers to the club’s stadium pitch at Home Park.

Together with outstanding quality of cut and first-class presentation, Head Groundsman Chris Ralph also cites the improvements in consistency achieved with their mowing operations thanks to the industry-leading INFINIApp™.

INFINICUT® mowers enter Home Park two by two

INFINICUT® mowers enter Home Park two by two

The investment has been on the cards for the last 18 months, which gave Chris and his team of five ample time to compare and contrast the options available. “We’d been using two INFINICUT® fixed head cylinders and were always happy with those – they’re reliable and comfortable to use, with minimal noise and vibrations. We found nothing that could better those” he explains. “On the rotary front, we demonstrated various models and were impressed with the performance and finish of the SM34’s, the ease of height adjustment compared to competitor machines and the side placement of the grass bucket which means it’s not hitting your legs all the time!”

With the decision made, the fleet was delivered by Andy White and Paul Curgenven of Shinners Bridge Garden Machinery and INFINICUT’s Mark Clifford-Kennedy in February 2024. “Andy, Paul and Mark left no stone unturned when they dropped the machines off. They went through every detail of the machines, guided us through set-up and demonstrated the full functionality of the INFINIApp™.” Chris continues, “The Bluetooth control is a great feature. We can quickly and easily set reel speed, clip rates and more, and share settings between machines to give us greater consistency than we’ve ever achieved before.”

In addition to the cylinder and rotary mowers, the club also purchased a pair of ThatchMasterTM cassettes from the TMSystem™. “I’ve been looking at these for a while! Our ProPitch reports were identifying an increase in thatch levels over the last 12 months and our only way of trying to combat that previously was with a tractor and rake. We equipped our 34” machines with the ThatchMasterTM cassettes for a first pass in mid-March and the results were outstanding! We each removed three or four boxes of unwanted organic matter, and the pitch looked healthier immediately.”

“The whole team have been really impressed, with not just the INFINICUT® machines themselves but the support and service we’ve had from Shinners Bridge along the way. We’re now well placed to further drive up the standards of our stadium pitch, along with our neighbouring first-team training surfaces too.”

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Trilo M3 cleans up at Ombersley GC

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Trilo M3 cleans up at Ombersley GC: Over the 35 years that Andrew Halfpenny has been Course Manager at Ombersley Golf Club, things have changed dramatically – including the site itself, where the 18 hole parkland course has matured, creating an ever-increasing problem with leaf-fall.

With mulching no longer providing a viable solution, the team took delivery of a Trilo M3 vacuum collector in October 2023, which has proved more than capable of keeping the course clean and tidy over a busy autumn and winter season.

Trilo M3 cleans up at Ombersley GC

Trilo M3 cleans up at Ombersley GC

Andrew has clocked up an impressive 47 years with the company, and currently leads the maintenance of the Worcestershire course supported by a team of five. “Leaves weren’t really too much of a problem traditionally, but as the course has matured, mulching them with a mower became unfeasible time-wise and playability-wise for the golfers” he explains. “We’ve established a fantastic relationship over the years with Tallis Amos Group so approached them to see what they could recommend to collect the leaves. They brought us the Trilo M3, we gave it a thorough test and we bought it – simple as that!”

The M3 Multipurpose from Trilo is capable of a range of operations including scarification, cut and collection and debris clearance depending on the attachment equipped. The 1.5m working width and 3m3 hopper capacity makes it compact yet capable of year-round maintenance tasks in a variety of golf and sports turf applications.

“It was delivered in October and was out on a weekly basis. It coped brilliantly with both the volume of leaves we had and the very wet ground. The wanderhose is a brilliant feature, great for manoeuvring around hedgerows and clearing leaves and other litter around perimeter and fence lines. We used the vacuum in conjunction with our blower, quickly removing everything we wanted to and leaving a really clean finish.” Andrew continues, “The players noticed the difference and loved it!”

While the M3 was predominately purchased for leaf clearance Andrew foresees that, with the climatic changes he has observed during his tenure, it will find other uses. “We see more rain, and notably more wind, which blows litter and tree-debris around the course. The M3 is our new go-to machine for keeping the course tidy.”

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Makita adds to XGT battery platform

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Makita adds to XGT battery platform: Makita has unveiled a number of new products to help keep lawns pristine. The company’s growing range aimed at the professional sector now includes two additional cordless lawn mowers – the 40VMax XGT LM003G and LM004G and its first cordless scarifier, the 40VMax XGT UV001GZ.

The new lawnmowers are powered by Makita’s advanced XGT technology and feature a high-torque motor that provides powerful and quiet operation, making quick work of grass cutting tasks.

Makita adds to XGT battery platform

Makita adds to XGT battery platform

The LM003G 40VMax XGT 380mm Lawnmower provides superb mowing performance, thanks to its advanced blade design. Tilting down towards the front of the mower, it helps to minimise double-cutting and reduces the load on the machine – this leads to reduced energy consumption, superior cutting feel and better grass collecting.

The LM004G 40VMax XGT 430mm Lawnmower, with a similar blade design to the LM003G, is a slightly larger model that also has two different blades available for different applications.

Both the LM003G and the LM004G can be fitted with a mulching blade to cut grass clippings into small particles and scatter them evenly on the ground. Furthermore, both mowers offer a continuous runtime of around 50 minutes, depending on the setting and the grass conditions, and have numerous additional features designed to improve comfort and ease of use. They require less force to turn thanks to a redesigned switch lever, while the easy-to-operate handle lock levers mean that each side of the handle can be locked and unlocked in a single action without the need for tools.

Both models also offer simple cutting height adjustment with easy-to-grip egg-shaped lever tops and u-shaped notches, and can be washed with water on the inside (provided high-pressure water is not used).

UV001G 40VMax XGT Brushless 380mm Lawn Scarifier

In addition to the two new mowers, Makita has also launched the UV001G 40VMax XGT Brushless 380mm Lawn Scarifier available as a body only model (UV001GZ), or complete with 2x 5.0Ah batteries and charger (UV001GM201).

The first scarifier to join Makita’s cordless line up, this machine has a high-power output of 1.7kW to cut through the toughest lawn thatching in order to improve airflow and nutrient penetration. Operating to a depth range of 5mm down to -12mm, this machine comes with a vertical cutting blade for aerating soil below the top surface of the lawn, and a thatching blade for removing deposited lawn clippings and surface moss.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK commented: “Makita’s product development continues to redefine the industry, with products that support the trade. With new comfort-enhancing features, the new cordless lawn mowers and scarifier are perfect for users who want to keep lawns and grassed areas in pristine condition, without the hassle of tangled cords or fuel refills.”

To find out more about Makita and its range of products visit: www.makitauk.com.

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Guernsey States Works switch to TinyLineMarker Pro X

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Guernsey States Works switch to TinyLineMarker Pro X: At the end of February 2023, Origin Amenity Solutions delivered their latest GPS guided robotic line marking machine, the TinyLineMarker (TLM) Pro X, to the States Works Propagation Unit in Guernsey.

Richard Langmead manages the Land Management section of States Works, where the team carry out grounds maintenance predominantly for States of Guernsey local Government which includes maintaining school grounds, parks and gardens, social housing, coastal areas, and cliff paths, as well as health properties including the main hospital.

Guernsey States Works switch to TinyLineMarker Pro X

Guernsey States Works switch to TinyLineMarker Pro X

 

Richard comments, “The primary use for the line marker will be to mark out sports pitches on our education sites. We will also be offering a service to other sports clubs on the island. My team used to mark out by hand using a manual line marking machine but this is time consuming and as our workload has grown so has the requirement for us to be faster and more efficient.  I decided to purchase the TLM Pro X robot for many reasons but mainly the efficiencies the robot will give us.”

Tiny Mobile Robots is marketed and distributed exclusively in the UK by Origin Amenity Solutions which brings together four leading industry names – Headland Amenity, Rigby Taylor, TurfKeeper.com and Symbio.

Packed with a range of brand-new innovative features, the TLM Pro X is an exciting new GPS robot designed to make line marking projects as streamlined and effortless as possible.

Richard adds, “As a business we were looking at ways to do tasks more efficiently and are always looking at technology to try and help with this. We came across the TLM Pro X on the internet. The potential cost savings on labour and the ability to have a pitch marking service that we could offer to other sports clubs on the island did appeal and fitted in with our business plans.”

“We have only just started using the robot, but it has already made the initial marking of the pitches much more efficient, and we certainly expect to see the savings in labour costs going forward.”

The TLM Pro X easily manages line marking from start to finish, whether it’s initial marking or overmarking. The robot runs on the ultra-reliable RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) network which means it doesn’t need a base station like some robots use. The robot will mark or remark  the pitch in the correct location every time, even if previous lines have disappeared. Once set up it incredibly simple to use and very reliable.

The TLM Pro X has over 200 customisable pitch templates which include sports pitches, athletic tracks, and parking.  “The ability to quickly and accurately mark out various pitch templates is a fantastic benefit to us.” Richard adds.

A popular new feature of the TLM Pro X is the multi-select tool and Richard agrees that it gives a “noticeable time saving.”  This tool gives users the ability to queue up multiple pitches to be marked out in a specific order of their choosing. The robot will then mark out the designated areas without having to recalibrate the robot each time. To help avoid problems, the robot displays the route it will take to mark out all queued pitches, so the user can ensure that the path is clear of obstructions for a seamless line marking project. As a part of this feature, the robot also gives an estimated time of completion as well as the distance to drive so users know when they can expect their project to be completed.

Working hand in hand with the Multi-Select Tool, the Low Paint Alert feature ensures no time is wasted due to running low on paint when sending the TLM Pro X off to mark multiple pitches in succession. When the robot is running low on paint, an automatic alert is sent to the user’s hand-held tablet notifying paint level is low. In addition, the robot will also send an alert if there is blockage which is preventing the robot from marking. “A simple yet time saving feature that is going to be incredibly useful to us” comments Richard.” “It means my team can carry out other jobs nearby while the robot does it thing, making us more productive and efficient. We don’t need to waste time monitoring the robot closely but are aware immediately when the paint is low, and we can top up before it runs out.”

The Origin Amenity Solutions team offer onsite training, maintenance, and general advice. Richards concludes by saying, “The communication with Simon Hughes and Glen Howard from Origin Amenity Solutions has been excellent, from the initial inquiry, right through to the training once we had purchased the robot, technical support is only a phone call away which is reassuring.”

Free demonstrations are being offered across the UK.  To book or enquire visit https://tinymobilerobots.com/tinymobilerobots-uk/

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Morpeth Golf Club looks to the future

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Morpeth Golf Club looks to the future: Morpeth Golf Club has a new approach to running its 117-year-old business; utilising every asset to broaden its appeal and be much more than just a great course. 

With new leadership and investment across the site, Morpeth is focused on drawing in customers to the clubhouse, restaurant, pro shop, simulator, events space and personal training facilities, as well as its flourishing 18-hole golf course.

Morpeth Golf Club looks to the future

Morpeth Golf Club looks to the future

A more positive and profitable future is being spearheaded by general manager Chris Liddell and course manager John Scurfield whose new strategy has included a significant investment in new course machinery from John Deere.

“If everything around the course is doing well, we have the budget to ensure our greenkeeping team gets all the tools it needs to keep the place looking great,” Chris said.

He joined the club in January to support its development through the bar and catering aspect of the business. As a former regional director for branded hospitality groups such as Pizza Express and TGI Friday’s, Chris has also been a member at Morpeth for 20 years.

“Where I feel I’ve been able to add a bit of value to the club is bringing in the big company principles such as implementing budgetary processes and more structure in how the club is run,” says Chris. “What will be pivotal in growing the club in the future is not only appealing to our current membership, but also broadening our appeal to the wider community. A part of what we have to do here is appeal to every demographic.”

Morpeth has 650 playing members, with over 20 more joining since the New Year. Chris projects the club could have about 750 members by the end of the year.

One aspect he wants to rejuvenate is the junior golf initiatives by developing an academy membership for young golfers to progress.

“In recent years I’ve seen that golf clubs have taken a hit in the number of junior memberships and that is something that I want to change,” says Chris. “I want to start getting more juniors into golf because I remember having such great days here when I was a junior member myself.”

To maintain the club’s growth, the stunning parkland course must be maintained to the highest standard, which is helped by Morpeth’s long-standing relationship with John Deere dealer Thomas Sheriff & Co.

Course manager John has been working at the club since he left school and has always used John Deere machinery. It’s a course he knows better than most ¬– holding the record with a six-under-par 65.

“We’ve had this partnership with John Deere for about 30 years, and the investment in the machinery has been necessary,” says John. “As the number of golf clubs in the area increases it dilutes the market, so we have to provide the best possible standard of our course to keep our current members and attract future ones.”

Morpeth’s latest investment includes an 8000A E-Cut Hybrid Fairway Mower, a HPX 815E Work Utility Gator, a 2550 E-Cut Riding Greens Mower, a HD 200 Precision Sprayer, and a 2030A Gator. All the machines are on a five-year finance lease with John Deere.

With only a five-person greenkeeping team, a busy playing membership and the course driven to staying open all year round, there are challenges. But John has taken to visiting other clubs to see how other teams manage.

“On volunteering at various clubs including Royal Cinque Ports and Royal Liverpool Golf Club, I went to see what I could bring back to Morpeth, even though we’re worlds apart from those bigger clubs,” says John. “One thing I brought back was that staff morale is so important. Despite these guys starting at 4am and working all day, they never stop laughing and joking around with each other and they keep a real team spirit.

“When handpicking new people to work with us, I’ve learned to base them more on their character than their skillset because team morale is so important.”

John’s team are all now experienced in using the John Deere machinery, and are proud to do so, being particularly impressed by the reliability and efficiency of the mowers that they use.

“Before they came here to Morpeth these guys hadn’t really had much experience with John Deere machines at the previous clubs they worked at,” John says. “So when they came here and started using the John Deere mowers, they straight away said that it’s top notch. It’s always a good sign when your team are proud of what they’re working with.”

In developing and maintaining the course for the future, John is interested in looking into John Deere’s GPS technology for future investments, looking at how implementing it could further increase efficiency in maintaining the grounds and also help in keeping costs down.

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