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NEWS ARTICLES

Graden CSI Helps St Augustine’s GC

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Graden CSI Helps St Augustine’s GC: At more than 100 years old, Kent’s St Augustine’s Golf Club has changed a lot over the last century and is now far from the grazing land that once occupied its 60 acre site. However, the pop-up greens, on original clay soil, used to cause Head Greenkeeper Gary Kennington and his team a headache when it came to topdressing and drainage. That was until the club discovered the benefits of the Graden Contour Sand Injection (CSI) unit, which has helped to improve water dispersal and greens speed, all with minimum surface disruption.

“Though we’re not strictly a links course, as there’s a road between the club and the Kent coast, we do still have to deal with the climatic challenges our location brings” explains Gary. “One year in particular, going back now 7 years, the weather meant the usual tactic of tining and topdressing wasn’t getting sand down into the greens as well as the team hoped.  At the time the Graden CSI was a relatively new concept in the UK so we hired a unit and quickly realised that it could really help.”

Graden CSI Helps St Augustine’s GC

The Graden CSI is a 3-in-1 verti-cutter with the ability to aerate, scarify and remove thatch to any depth between 1mm-40mm, whilst simultaneously backfilling the grooves with either sand or a combination of sand and seed. Its ability to conduct multiple jobs in one pass reduces play downtime without causing any detrimental effect to the firmness of the ground. “With this CSI you’re getting the sand into the green, rather the putting it on the top, allowing you to get greens back into play in as little as half an hour.”

Gary and his team now use the CSI on all 18 greens twice a year and continue to see marked improvements. “From the very first use we reduced the thatch content of the greens and worked the sand down into the soil profile which helped with drainage and greens speed. With it being a pedestrian unit, we have great manoeuvrability and it means we can still go out and use it in conditions that may not always be ideal. Should we need that little extra advice or support we now have John Fitzpatrick of Charterhouse Turf Machinery who is great to have at the end of the phone.”

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Club Devastated After Mower Theft

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Club ‘Devastated’ After Mower Theft: Nantwich Town FC have spoken of their devastation following the theft of thousands of pounds worth of groundsman’s equipment.

In a statement released by the club this afternoon (Wednesday) a spokesman said they were “sad to report” that the club was broken into overnight, with thousands of pounds worth of equipment being taken from the groundsman’s store.

This is the second time the club has been targeted in two years, the spokesman said, adding that some of the equipment had been donated by supporters.

They said: “Thieves broke into the ground and took a Ride on John Deere mower and one of our Haytor mowers plus other pieces of kit. Both pieces of equipment stolen were less than two years old. The Haytor mower was bought for the club by our supporters.”

Chairman Tony Davison said: “This is devastating news for the club. The equipment stolen was nearly brand new. Some of it had been donated by supporters which makes the theft even more upsetting.

“Running a club at this level is difficult enough at any time but events like this can put the whole future of the club at risk.

“We will have to launch and emergency fund raising initiative to replace the equipment and make sure we can look after the pitch to make sure it is ready for next season.”

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “Police are investigating a burglary at a football club in Waterlode.

“Sometime between 10pm on 12 June and 8am the following morning thieves broke into the grounds of Nantwich Football Club and forced open a container stealing garden equipment including lawnmowers.

“Anyone with information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number IML 92102.

“Alternatively information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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Dutch Stadium Praises INFINICUT

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Dutch Stadium Praises INFINICUT: A renovation of stands at Holland’s De Adelaarshorst in 2015, saw the start of new opportunities for Go Ahead Eagles FC and its Head of Operations Ronnie Janssen. With its new capacity of just under 10,000, the stadium was one of the host venues for the 2017 UEFA Women’s Euro Tournament, which is also where Ronnie had his first experience with the Cub Cadet INFINICUT® mowers. With the generous backing of the supporters club, they were able to purchase their own fleet of two INFINICUT® 34’s at the end of 2017.

Founded in 1902 and currently playing in the Eerste Divisie, the club has produced a number of notable players through its academy programmes, as well as giving a number of ex-players their first opportunities as trainers and managers. “When we were in preparation for the Women’s Euro’s, UEFA strongly recommended we mow by hand so we looked around at the world of pedestrian mowers” explains Ronnie who has been in his current role for 16 years. “Our club advisor had seen the INFINICUT® mowers in action at FC Utrecht so we hired two units for the duration of the tournament and our grounds team, lead by our Field Manager Branco, were very impressed.”

Dutch Stadium Praises INFINICUT

“With the fantastic results we achieved on the pitch, we were keen to buy our own following the event but didn’t have the money at the time. Our fantastic Supporters Association, who do a lot of great work for us, then came together and paid for two INFINICUT® 34” mowers” which were delivered in November 2017. “The battery powered operation is something we particularly like, as well as the fact you can also get a cassette system to fit, for a variety of turf applications.”

Ronnie, Branco and his team of volunteers achieved fantastic results with the mowers throughout the 2017/18 season, receiving top marks in the league for their pitch multiple times. “Since using the INFINICUT® we have not looked back – the machine operates in a new way to any other mower and has improved the quality of our pitch. We couldn’t have achieved this without the generosity of our Supporters Club so it’s really a big thank you to them.”

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New Makita Launches

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New Makita Launches: Makita continues to expand the range of cordless tools designed for the professional grounds maintenance industry, introducing new technical features and enhancing performance.

The new Makita DUR189Z 18v LXT linetrimmer, which replaces the popular DUR184L model, has a 240 watt output Brushless motor providing capacity to run the head at three selected speed settings.  Having the motor at the drive head improves the balance of the machine and eliminates the loss of power through the traditional drive shaft where the motor is at the operator end of the machine.  The DUR189Z linetrimmer has the benefit of the innovative Automatic Torque Drive Technology (ADT), where the revolutions per minute are automatically increased from between 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000rpm according to the density of the weeds and foliage being cut.  This allows for greater and improved energy saving, lower noise levels, optimum operation and user comfort.  A speed indicator is conveniently positioned on the control panel.

New Makita Launches

The lightweight design of this model has an operating weight of 3.3kg, including the LXT battery, soft grip handle and forward loop handle for maximum machine control.  The bent pipe shaft is adjustable in length and the foldable wire guard helps to reduce risk or damage to foliage, fences and ornaments.  The smaller protector allows a better view of the 300mm cutting circle.  Soft start, electric brake, reverse rotation and overload protection add to the efficiency of this new linetrimmer, which is available as a body only model.

Makita’s new DUR188LZ linetrimmer has all the features of the DUR189Z model, including ADT, with the additional advantage of a 2-part shaft so this model can be split in two for easy transportation and storage; a trigger switch with lock-off lever and a multi-functional control panel with speed and power indicators.  Again, this is a body only model.

Makita’s new DUM604Z 18v LXT grass shears will be a favourite too and replaces the hugely popular DUM168 model.  Fast, powerful and brilliantly handy, a compatible hedge trimmer attachment is also available that has a tool-less blade change.  The shear has a double blade action, a cutting width of 160mm, and a 3-stage cutting height adjustment from 15 – 25mm for really fine work.  With an ergonomically designed soft grip handle and light in weight at just 1.8kg, including the battery, user comfort is guaranteed while low noise emissions will ensure Sunday morning peace and quiet for family and neighbours.  This model is available as a body only.

The Makita range of outdoor maintenance and grounds care equipment continues to expand with innovative tools that excel technically, and are equally enjoyed by professional users and keen gardeners.

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Vandals Cause Golf Club Closure

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Vandals Cause Golf Club Closure: A popular golf course heavily damaged by vandals in Skagit County is now temporarily closed while crews replace more than a dozen greens.

Roll by roll.

Green by green.

A transformation is underway at Swinomish Golf Links.

As soon as a row of new sod is put down, crews pull it into place.

They then trim each of the edges.

It’s a process they’ll have to repeat 16 times due to the extensive damage vandals caused at the course last month.

“7-10 days…we’re hopeful we can get all of the replacement and repairs done,” Dallas Widmark, Lodge General Manager for the Swinomish Casino and Lodge.

If that timeline seems quick, it is.

Employees made the difficult decision this week to temporarily close the course after vandals sprayed a grass-and-weed-killing compound called Glyphosate on 16 of the course’s greens last month and spelled out a swear word on the 11th hole.

Damages could climb to more than $400,000, Widmark told KOMO News. About one-third of that will likely be in lost revenue, he added.

“Historically, in this part of the state, this part of the country, your golf season is really Memorial Day through Labor Day. And the fact that it happened when it did and being closed essentially 1/3 of the summer… maybe more… it’s incredibly impactful,” Widmark said.

The clubhouse and the driving range will remain, Widmark said.

So golfers like Jeff Yoder can continue to take lessons.

“I was angry. Wondering why somebody would do that to the golf course. I don’t know what they’re trying to prove, but it just seemed to me like a stupid move,” Yoder said about the damage caused by the vandals. “It’s a good course. People that work here are good to work with.”

Some of the greens will require new drainage systems, Widmark said.

Crews will try to salvage what they can, he added.

The hope is to get the course back open in early July after the new greens have been watered and given time to settle, Widmark said.

“I really think we’re going to do everything we can to turn this into a positive,” Widmark told KOMO News.

It’s a setback Widmark wishes would have never happened.

But he and his crew are already making plans for a big reopening, that could include a free day of golf for the entire community, he said. Donations could be collected to give to various charities and fundraisers that host their golf tournaments at the course.

“The support that we have received from the community has been amazing,” Widmark said.

The course does have insurance, so that could cover some of the cost for repairs, Widmark said.

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is still offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

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