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NEWS ARTICLES

Manor of Groves GC Exclusively Toro

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Manor of Groves GC Exclusively Toro: Following the arrival of its second Toro fleet, Hertfordshire’s Manor of Groves Golf Club is now exclusively Toro, achieving its all-red status ahead of its deadline of 2020.

Head greenkeeper Lee Brinkley says this sees his ambition realised from when he joined the club three years ago: “I had previously worked at a Toro club and my main goal when joining Manor of Groves was to improve the quality of the course, to make it comparable to the course that I’d become accustomed to. I resolved to be exclusively Toro by 2020 as I knew what a difference it would make, and now we’ve achieved that – ahead of schedule – it’s evident for everyone else too!”

Manor of Groves GC Exclusively Toro

The par 71, 18-hole, 6,237 yard course at Manor of Groves has been subject to a large investment to improve the already fine design and part of that investment comes in the form of Toro. It was in 2018 that the first Toro fleet arrived at Manor of Groves with Lee citing the brand’s quality, value for money, time-saving benefits, ease of maintenance, noticeable results and after-sales service as the reasons behind the purchase. Lee says nothing has changed since then.

“All of those things still apply, but I can add in more! There’s definitely a better atmosphere at the club. It makes a significant difference to club spirit when there’s high quality, innovative, equipment to use. You really notice the sense of pride there is to use a decent machine. This has been very apparent since the machinery arrived and we’ve seen just what it’s capable of. And it’s great to see how happy the members are with the improvements to their course and the investment from the club to ensure Manor of Groves strives to be a course everyone talks about.”

Completing Manor of Groves’ Toro red shed are the Groundsmaster 4000-D, Groundsmaster 3500-D with Sidewinder, ProPass 200 top dresser, GreensPro 1260, ProCore 648 aerator and Workman MDX-D utility vehicles.

Lee says about the order: “The GM3500-D with Sidewinder is incomparable. I don’t believe there is anything else available like it, it is that good.”

Lee also opted this time for a TYM Tractor T353 and loader. He says: “We’ve never had a TYM tractor before, but when you have such a good level of customer service from a distributor, like we do with Reesink Turfcare, you certainly don’t go looking anywhere else. We’re using the TYM to pull the new ProPass top dresser and together they’ve cut our labour for sanding by over half!”

And while it’s certainly taken hard-work and persistence to get the club to where it is today, Lee says it’s been more than worth it: “Everyone is invested in the vision. We’ve removed everything that wasn’t Toro and as a result there’s been a complete turnaround. To look at how far the club has come in just three years, how happy the team and members are and how now we’re able to maintain such high standards, is just great.”

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Net World Sports SALTEX Preview

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Net World Sports SALTEX Preview: Join the sporting rebellion and visit Net World Sports on stand C107 at Saltex 2019.

Grab your free drink, hit the highest score on the boxing machine to win prizes and grab your discount code to save 10% off all our products online at www.networldsports.co.uk

Net World Sports SALTEX Preview

Have a chat with our fun, friendly team of experts to learn more about the world class products we produce and who we supply. Our customer portfolio includes Manchester United, Somerset County Cricket Club, FA Wales, Oswestry School and the Canadian Premier League.

Our stand will also showcase our unique top of the range products:

  • FORZA Alu110 Box Goal & 360° Wheels

(2019 innovation award entry, designed in partnership with Manchester United’s grounds team)

  • Luxury Portable FORZA Team Shelter

(New product launch exclusive to Saltex, seating that is as easy to move as it is on the eyes!)

  • Wembley Wheel Transfer Line Marking Machine & Carrot Tuft Markers

(Makes ease of marking out the perfect grass pitch)

  • FORZA Aluminium Folding POD Goals

(A transportable target goal that fits into a car, used by top coaches worldwide)

We look forward to seeing everyone at Saltex 2019. If you would like to book a timed meeting slot with our team during the show, then please visit https://www.networldsports.co.uk/saltex-2019

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Sherriff A Hit At Hampton Court Palace

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Sherriff A Hit At Hampton Court Palace: A range of Sherriff Amenity products have improved the overall health of the turf on the fairways at Hampton Court Palace Golf Club, according to course manager Richard Hill.

Set within the royal grounds of Home Park where King Henry VIII once hunted deer and with the beautiful Hampton Court Palace looming in the background, there could hardly be a more regal setting to enjoy a round of golf.

Sherriff A Hit At Hampton Court Palace

The acclaimed 18-hole course is a 6,513 yard, par 71 parkland and inland links course which dates back to 1895. It was later re-modelled by Willie Park, who was also the designer of Royal Birkdale and Sunningdale, leaving the course beautiful yet demanding.

Richard Hill has been at the Club since May 2008 and was promoted to the position of course manager in 2013. Throughout his time Richard has maintained the course to an excellent standard despite some obstacles such as the huge 16th century lime-trees which surround the course and a bizarre lack of rainfall – as he explains.

“This site is an absolute anomaly when it comes to rainfall,” he says. “It can rain at the nearby Heathrow airport, it can rain on the M4 motorway but just not rain here at Hampton Court. I have my theories on why but that is another matter!”

As a result, the lack of rainfall tends to apply more pressure on the fairways at Hampton Court and Richard admits to embarking on a lengthy search for a winning formula which could help to relieve some of the stress.

“I was always looking at options that could make an improvement to the fairways and I tried so many different combinations of wetting agents and seaweeds – believe me, I must have tried all of them. The best results by far has been from Goemar seaweed and Excel wetting agent from Sherriff Amenity. When I first applied them, the fairways went from brown to green in just a week.”

Goemar is a high quality liquid seaweed extracted using a unique cold process that removes unwanted alginates and cellulose to leave a 100% seaweed juice. It is harvested in Brittany where they have some of the strongest tides in the world and these extreme tides lead this seaweed to experience high exposure to sun and heat at low tide. To counter these stresses the seaweed produces high amounts of the active ingredients required for plants to survive long stress periods. The cold extraction process then concentrates these ingredients in the finished product and Richard explained just how unique it is.

“Quite simply, it mixes perfectly,” he said. “You get all of the benefits without the organic matter and therefore the plant responds a lot quicker. It is full of beneficial sugars that combined with the Excel wetting agent, helps the grass to hold on to the nutrients. It is perfect for fairways.”

Its tank-mix partner Excel is a multi-purpose, low dose wetting agent which is ideal for use on larger areas, such as golf fairways and sports pitches.  For the tank-mix he applies Excel at 1 L/ha and Goemar at 3 L/ha but due to the weather conditions Richard believes that timing is key.

“I don’t have a set time to apply the products, instead I spray when I feel it is needed and when we have the correct weather window. Historically I used to have everything all in one tank – the fertiliser, the wetting agent and the seaweed but now I do it separately. So, I will apply my feed one day and then the seaweed and wetting agent another day.”

For his fairway feed, Richard relies on Sherriff Amenity’s Evolution Xtra Soluble 46.0.0 and feels that he now has the ideal products in place.

“I will always get an application of the Evolution Xtra out so that it is sitting there waiting to take all the nutrients in. It washes it down to the roots and then away it goes. It might be six weeks from when we spray the feed to when the Goemar and Excel go out and you can really see the benefits. The colour is great and you can see the Poa still hanging on which you normally wouldn’t see.

“I remember when we first applied this combination and they looked like different fairways.

“I will continue with this method because I want to encourage more water to go down to the roots and these products are doing the fairways a world of good.”

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity.

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AriensCo To Make Zero-Turns In UK

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AriensCo To Make Zero-Turns In UK: AriensCo has announced that production of Ariens brand zero-turn mowers will commence at the company’s factory in Great Haseley, Oxfordshire.

It’s believed these will be the first zero-turns to be manufactured in Europe. AriensCo reports seeing an exceptional growth in demand for zero-turn mowers in the UK and Europe. This follows similar trends in the US, where sales have more than tripled since 2003 as the popularity among users has soared. According to industry analysis, zero-turn sales in Europe have grown more than 30% over the last four years, making them the fastest growing category of ride-on mowers and third fastest in the lawn and garden power equipment sector.

AriensCo To Make Zero-Turns In UK

“Sales of zero-turns in Europe have experienced exceptional growth over the past three years,” says Darren Spencer, Vice President – EMEA and Asia. “AriensCo has experienced this growth in numerous markets and, based upon extensive research with our distribution partners, we expect the growth to continue. This industry analysis points to the many opportunities to be met by producing zero-turns at our Great Haseley plant. We currently sell into ten different countries within Europe and aim to increase our European footprint in 2020. Future growth will accelerate as the benefits of zero-turn mowers are understood by customers. Zero-turn users are experiencing increased speed of cut and greater versatility over tractors and out-fronts.”

During 2019 AriensCo continues to make significant investment in the Oxfordshire factory in preparation for zero-turn production, including a new production line, fixtures and tooling. The UK will be manufacturing CE zero-turns for European markets only and will initially be producing the IKON, APEX and ZENITH models. Close collaboration with the US will be maintained to ensure products match up to Ariens’ reputation for manufacturing quality.

Zero-turn production in the UK is seen to offer significant advantages, allowing for rapid delivery and improved availability throughout the year. There is also potential for zero-turns to be adapted with features and benefits to meet local market needs.  Increased utilisation of the manufacturing facility at Great Haseley will provide operational cost benefits and will generate a number of new jobs for the area. The first zero-turn to come off the production line will be at the end of October.

For further information or to become a dealer for AriensCo, please call 01844 278800 or email uksales@ariensco.com

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AGS Win Best Business Award

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AGS Win Best Business Award: Advance Grass Solutions Ltd (AGS) was named winner of Best New Business category at the 2019 Best Business Awards.

The BBAs pride themselves on having a large panel of independent expert judges who select winners according to strict criteria for each category and sector.

AGS Win Best Business Award

The Best Business Awards judges said:

Commenting on Advance Grass Solutions Ltd, the winner in the Best New Business category, the chairman of the judges said:

 “Advance Grass Solutions has come up with a sound formula for the perfect playing surface that incorporates consultancy, agronomy programmes, scientific and technical analysis, product selection and solid turf management principles. Through its all-in-one package and policy of using environmentally-friendly products, AGS has grown a quick reputation for creating sustainable, top-quality playing surfaces for major sporting venues including Premiership Football Stadia, Top 100 Golf Clubs and Independent Schools”.

“The AGS management have shown true entrepreneurial skills setting credible foundations around a solid business model which augurs well for the future. Congratulations to AGS for coming up with market leading solutions and achieving strong growth in terms of turnover and new business.”

Upon receiving the Award, Jamie Bennett, Chairman and CEO said: “We are extremely proud to have won our first national business award and being recognised for excellence in our in our particular field is very satisfying. This award is a credit to the whole AGS team whose dedication is directly related to our success. I would also like to thank our loyal customers who have shown faith in our products and service support which has made this award a reality.”

The Best Business Awards are one of the UK’s highest profile awards and winning this accolade speaks volumes about the quality of your organisation. Due to its high profile, the Awards attract a wide range of entries from across all sectors from large international PLCs and public sector organisations to dynamic and innovative SMEs. The winners all have one thing in common – they are truly excellent at what they do and Advance Grass Solutions Ltd (AGS) have proved this by winning a Best Business Award.

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