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NEWS ARTICLES

Salsco Greens Rollers A Timesaver

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Salsco Greens Rollers A Timesaver: A top golf venue has reduced greens rolling time by nearly a third after investing in leading-edge machinery.

Since purchasing two Salsco HP11-III greens rollers, The Royal Automobile Club has cut time devoted to the task from five and a half hours to three and a half hours daily, it reports.

Salsco Greens Rollers A Timesaver

“This is a massive reduction,” states Golf Course Manager Lee Strutt, who test-drove the machine on a visit to the Golf Industry Show in 2017. “The time saved frees up operators for other duties and that’s a major benefit.”

The HP11-III’s powerful Honda petrol engine delivers speeds up to 11mph, while three independently controlled rollers with 73in operating width cut a swathe through the time operators have traditionally taken for this aspect of greens upkeep.

“The rollers average five to six minutes a green,” explains Lee, who manages the 36-hole Championship Old and Coronation courses with a team of up to 26.  In his three and half years in post, Lee has rung the changes in cultural practices across the 36-holes of what is one of Britain’s most prestigious member clubs and the HP11-IIIs fit into that strategy.

His investment in the high-end rollers is delivering benefits for both the greens team and players, by improving presentation and playability.

“I had met Salsco’s owner on their stand at the GIS, tested the roller and liked it instantly but my biggest issue was that the team would be unable to try it first as it was important that they enjoyed using the machine,” Lee explains.

“The performance of the HP11-III gave me the confidence to buy and it was well-founded, as the team really like working with the rollers. We also use them after topdressing instead of brushing-in and the powered brushes ensure there is no debris build up on the rollers, so leaving a clean finish”.

“Dual drive oscillating rollers and articulated steering provide consistent roll to ground contact, which helps improve surface smoothness and trueness, all factors key to providing the level of quality our members expect.”

Salsco Greens Rollers A Timesaver

“Speed, productivity, robustness, build quality and ease of use, with strong dealer support, are all wins for us,” he adds.

“The HP11-III can cover a serious amount of green quickly, without compromising quality of finish,” confirms Peter Stanley, Sales Representative for sole Salsco UK distributor CLS Selfdrive.

Lee was aware of the roller from his US greenkeeping visits and could see the design and build quality could further improve the courses. The rollers would have a big impact on both the greens and time taken for rolling them, so was delighted when Salsco appointed CLS as UK dealer.

Since then, sales confirm the benefits the rollers offer hard-pressed greens teams. The club savings in green rolling time is particularly impressive when you consider that travelling between greens is the same, whichever brand of roller teams use. Rolling is a skill usually left to a particular team member but the Salsco opens it up to anyone.”

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An Update From Scott MacCallum

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An Update From Scott MacCallum: Well, that’s the main exhibition season over for the next 11 months. With Saltex and BTME coming so close together, particularly with the festive period slap bang in the middle, it is probably the most intense time of the year… for the likes of us that is who don’t have sports pitches and golf courses to look after.

It was great to see so many people at both shows taking advantage of what the two shows have to offer – new products, professional development and mingling with like minded people. From a personal perspective it was also lovely to see how well Turf Matters – both the magazine and the website – is being received by its readership. So many people stopped Sinead and I to compliment us on Turf Matters and it makes us both believe that we are moving in the right direction as a title.

An Update From Scott MacCallum

We do care about what you want from your trade media and try to ensure that whatever we do is relevant and of interest to you. We will continue to produce well written, well presented features for you, as well as acting as a conduit for all the news and views from throughout our wonderful industry.

As I write, and look out of the window, we are in the middle of the coldest snap of the year. At least I hope it’s the middle and not just the start of a prolonged period of sub zero temperatures and all that that brings.

It’s at times like these that we all yearn from those heady days when the shorts are out and our knees are sunburnt. Hang in there guys and gals. It’s only a few months until spring!

Scott MacCallum

Vandals Target Golf Greens

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Vandals Target Golf Greens: Two greens at the Keilor Golf Club in Australia were last week ripped up after vehicles were deliberately driven across the course.

Brimbank infrastructure and city services director Neil Whiteside said the vandalism was unacceptable.

“Council is disappointed that reckless vandals have damaged the Keilor Public Golf Course by deliberately driving vehicles over the 2nd and 4th greens,” he said.

“Council works hard to care and maintain its public spaces for its community, so naturally any incidents of vandalism are upsetting and disappointing.”

He said the greens were vandalised some time between Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20.

It’s not the first time vandals have destroyed a much-loved Brimbank green area.

Last September, vandals rode a motorbike through the newly opened Sunvale Park, damaging lawn and garden bed.

The then mayor Margaret Giudice labelled the vandalism an “affront to our community” and said security around the park would be increased.

But vandals were undeterred, hitting the park a further two times within a month of it opening.

The attacks frustrated the community so much that groups vowed to patrol the park in a bid to establish an around-the-clock presence and ensure it remained secure.

The vandalism to the golf course has elicited a similar reaction.

Mr Whiteside said the golf course would be repaired in the near future and security efforts would be bolstered.

“Council will work to repair the course as soon as possible,” he said. “Council is also looking at the installation of security cameras and other security initiatives at the Keilor Public Golf Course. Theft and vandalism are serious offences under Victorian law and we continue to work closely with Victoria Police to investigate these types of matters.”

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BASF Launch Nematode Challenge

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BASF Launch Nematode Challenge: BASF, the leading producer of beneficial nematodes used as pest control in British gardens, is on the search for volunteers to take part in its 2019 Nematode Challenge.

The Sussex-based company grows trillions of beneficial nematodes for use in its Nemasys range of pest controls. After an initial launch in 2017, the company has decided to run its Nematode Challenge for 2019. It will also, for a second successive year exclusively be launched in conjunction with the National Allotment Society (NAS).

BASF Launch Nematode Challenge

The representative body has over 125,000 members in which it assists them to acquire, maintain, manage and enjoy allotments across the UK.

Diane Appleyard, marketing co-ordinator at the NAS said: “We are thrilled to be working with BASF again to help build awareness of the benefits of nematodes. By working together, we can educate our members on how to keep their allotments pest-free whilst also having fun outdoors in our garden or allotment – a win-win situation!”

If you have not yet tried nematodes, then you will be surprised at just how simple and easy they are in helping get rid of garden or allotment pests. All of the six products are simply mixed with water and either applied from a watering can with a coarse rose or sprayed onto the foliage and soil, depending on the variety.

This process is repeated throughout the season, from the moment that the first signs of pests occur and can be easily slotted into your regular watering routine. There is no need to keep children or pets away from treated areas and the whole programme is entirely biological, meaning all the products can be used by organic gardeners.

Despite this simplicity, and their many benefits, many gardeners and growers are put off by them, thinking them to be too complicated or expensive.

So, in order to tackle this mindset, BASF is looking for 25 volunteers across the UK to give beneficial nematodes a try and to report on their results. The allotment gardeners will represent a diverse range soil types and growing problems, along with, no doubt, preconceptions about nematodes.

Volunteering couldn’t be easier, and the whole process is designed to be as easy as possibly, adding as little work to the allotments-holders as possible. To get involved, all you have to do is email sarahbryan@paskett.co.uk by 8th April 2019.

Successful volunteers will be supplied with a free season’s worth of Nemaslug, along with a short, initial questionnaire to fill in, which will contain questions such as:

  • Where is your allotment garden?
  • What do you grow?
  • How would you rate your recent slug problems?
  • Which pest control products do you usually use?
  • Which have been successful?
  • Do you actively encourage wildlife into your allotment?

In late September, results and feedback questionnaires will be circulated, containing questions about how the volunteers found their experience of using Nemaslug, and whether they would use it again.

This is a great opportunity to try something new, and you may just find your new favourite pest control solution!

If you are interested, please get in touch and we will send further information.

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Replay Operator Q&A

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Replay Operator Q&A: A Q&A with Replay Maintenance operator Michael Kelly

What is your current role at Replay Maintenance? How long have you been there and what was your route into the industry?

I became part of the Replay team following a recruitment drive day that Replay held. I have now worked at Replay for two years, as a Synthetic Surface Technician.

What training did you undergo when you started the job?

I began by shadowing an experienced member of the team who taught me the principles of the job and have continued to progress through the in-house training programme. Since starting, I have gone on to learn all of the various Replay Maintenance processes and completed my telescopic handler licence and forward tipping dumper licence. I have also attended first aid and health and safety courses.

Replay Operator Q&A

What time do you start work in the morning, what does an average day entail?

Generally, my start time varies depending on the jobs I have scheduled to do that day, though it is normally sometime between 6am and 7am. My average day usually entails two jobs, one in the morning and then another in the afternoon.

How much information do you receive in advance of a site visit? What technology do you use to track and monitor your work?

All information is fed direct to me on a daily basis through the Replay PitchPassport365 system. I receive the name of the job and the address, the name of the site contact and their contact details along with any information that is specific to that site such as the size, and type, of surface. PitchPassport365 has a job timer on it to which is started on arrival at the site and is turned off on completion. This helps us to track all of our visits. The average Replay Revive® visit takes approximately four hours to complete. The PitchPassport365 system also allows me to add before, during and after photos of the job, as well as alerting the office instantly of any issues that I find on the surface during a visit – fed through using Replay Rescue.

What are the essential pieces of equipment on your truck, to complete the days task?

The Revive machine, which uses a wet and dry filter, is the core piece of equipment I use. I also carry three sieves of different sizes, which gives me the choice of which to utilise depending on the type of surface I am working on, the size of the infill and the weather conditions on the day.  In addition, I have a leaf blower, refuse sacks, weed and moss sprayer and various other items in the van which are used during a site visit.

Most of your work is conducted independently – how much interaction do you have with the facility manager and are there many decisions you have to make on site?

On arrival at a site I will report to reception who will then point me in the direction of the caretaker who facilitates my visit. Working independently, I have to use my initiative when completing the job but if any major problems arise, I will speak with the main job contact.

Replay Operator Q&A

Have you experienced any changes during your time at Replay, and if so, how have these impacted on, or improved, the service you provide?

The main improvement has been the introduction of Replay’s PitchPassport system which has significantly improved the sharing of information between the Replay office, the customer and the operators on the road. The system instantly connects us all, and the work I carry out on the pitch can be viewed ‘as-live’.

Is there a particular service you enjoy conducting? 

There are many elements I enjoy, but in particular, I get a great deal of satisfaction conducting the specialist Revive visits. It’s the service we probably conduct the most often but it’s very rewarding seeing the improvement in the appearance of a surface. I also enjoy familiarising myself with people over the visits, getting to know them, their pitches and working together with them to produce a maintenance regime that works.

In your role you spend a lot of hours travelling between sites – what do you listen to and which song can you be caught singing along to?

When I’m in between jobs, I mainly listen to Radio 1 but if you’re going to catch me singing it’ll likely be to any song by The Courteeners.

How do you spend your free time? 

I spend my spare time with my girlfriend and enjoy socialising with friends. I also follow Nottingham Forest Football Club.

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