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NEWS ARTICLES

Rain Bird’s New IC Devices

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Rain Bird’s New IC Devices: Rain Bird Golf has introduced two IC CONNECT™ products designed to make its industry-leading IC System even more functional and convenient for Golf Course Managers and their courses. The Rain Bird® IC-IN Integrated Control Sensor Input Device enables users to monitor and respond to on-site sensor information in real-time, using the IC System’s MAXI™ wire path. The Rain Bird® IC-OUT Integrated Control Output Device enables activation of remotely located equipment from the Central Control.

“Since 2009, the IC System has delivered total control and unmatched diagnostics to golf courses in over 40 countries around the world,” said Scott Rottler, Senior Product Manager for Rain Bird Golf’s Central Control systems. “As complementary devices, both the IC-IN and IC-OUT take the IC System to the next level by providing Course Managers with additional functionality that can reduce water use, save time and reduce labour costs.”

Rain Bird's New IC Devices

Both the IC-IN and IC-OUT connect directly to the same IC System wire path as the Integrated Control Modules (IC Modules) used to activate sprinklers. Multiple IC-IN, IC-OUT and IC Modules may be connected to a single wire path, providing flexibility for the varied site conditions found across every golf course.

IC-IN collects and transmits data to the Central Control from sensor devices of various types, including flow, rain, pressure, temperature, wind speed, on/off and reservoir level sensors.

IC-OUT integrates the Rain Bird Central Control with remotely located products such as pumps, fans, gates, fountains, lights, motorised valves, DC latching solenoids and more. Users can now control these products automatically from the Central Control computer or manually via the Rain Bird Mobile Interface (MI Series™) application.

IC System customers can experience optimum control by using these IC CONNECT system components in combination with each other and Rain Bird’s Central Control system. Constant communication between the Central Control and the IC-IN and IC-OUT devices facilitates real-time, automated responses to changing site conditions. Thus, course management is simplified allowing Course Managers and their staff to remotely manage irrigation and a multitude of other products that enhance the player experience.

“By providing simplified installation pinpoint diagnostics and easy expandability, the IC System has permanently changed the way golf course superintendents manage their irrigation systems,” Rottler said. “Now, with the addition of the IC CONNECT devices, the IC System continues to evolve, allowing Course Managers to further fine-tune their watering and increase automation around the course.”

For additional information about Rain Bird’s new IC-IN and IC-OUT devices for the IC CONNECT System, visit  www.rainbird.com/golf/products/field/ICsystem.htm. To learn more about the company’s many other quality products for golf course irrigation, visit rainbird.eu/golf

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Vandals Target Sports Fields

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Vandals Target Sports Fields: Norbridge Park has been targeted once more after two of its fields in North Rockhampton were ripped up overnight.

Devoted groundsman Cec Newman said it was the seventh time in nine months the soccer fields had been damaged.

Tyre tracks were discovered this morning by Mr Newman after being notified by The Morning Bulletin.

Scenes of crime police attended the fields this morning to photograph the damage on field Eight C and field B as a result.

Mr Newman said these incidents affected the soccer players who perform on the fields every weekend.

After taking a trip around the perimeter of the lower fields, no entry point into the fields could be found.

This follows an emergency services alert which was sent out after 1am this morning, which said a road traffic incident had occurred in the area.

Police have been unable to provide details on the incident.

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New Major Equipment Appointment

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New Major Equipment Appointment: Major Equipment has announced the appointment of Keith McCormick as their new Scottish and North of England sales representative, replacing Ivor Dobson who is retiring from the company after 14 years of service.

Keith joins Major Equipment from Walter Watson where he was responsible for sales throughout Ireland and the UK. With an eight-year tenure at Walter Watson, Keith is already a familiar face to the Scottish dealer network.

New Major Equipment Appointment

“We’re delighted Keith has joined the Major team,” says Eoin Murphy, Major UK General Manager, “he brings a wealth of technical and industry knowledge and we’re very much looking forward to working with him.”

“The Major product range is impressive with a great reputation for clever design and product reliability,” says Keith. “I’m really excited to be a part of the Major team.”

Major Equipment Ltd is a designer and manufacturer of a comprehensive range of tractor mounted park and turf mowers for the UK municipal market.

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Boughton GC Lease With Reesink

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Boughton GC Lease With Reesink: Boughton Golf Club in the Kentish North Downs, has become the most recent in a long line of clubs to see the value of a five-year lease deal with Reesink Turfcare and Toro.

Joining the 27-hole club is a fleet of Toro greens, tees, surrounds, fairways and rough mowers, a comprehensive selection to accommodate the club as it enters a period of expansion.

Boughton GC Lease With Reesink

Gary Debenham, course manager at Boughton for almost 25 years, says: “Investment from the owners Johnathan Callister, CEO, and James Tory is being made in the club that not only brings in the machinery, but expansion to the club and its offering.

“It made economic sense to go for a lease deal, the terms are better and it’s affordable. With that decided it only left which brand and distributor to go for, and that was an easy decision to make. Toro is the market leader, we’ve used them for years and have always been impressed with their value, longevity and reliability. I knew they were a safe bet.”

With these factors in mind, Gary opted for three Reelmaster 3100-D ride-ons to replace three older Toro models. Richard Wood, Reesink sales manager, says: “The three new Reelmasters replace three older Toros which were between 14 and 21 years old, and had accumulated 5000-6000 hours work. They were consistently reliable in front-line use, particularly because of the constant power to at least two wheels at all times providing unbeatable traction for the rolling countryside the club inhabits. There was no question of a different mower when you’ve experienced this level of reliability and longevity.”

Gary also chose two Reelmaster 5510-D fairway mowers for the first time. He was impressed with the way the machine performed in the demo: “The RM5510-D came with groomers attached. They’re something we haven’t had before at the club and they did so well on the finish, we didn’t hesitate to order them too.”

Gary is right about that. Groomers lift the turf and reduce the grain, help to knock off dew, disperse grass clippings and integrate clippings into the grass canopy to produce an improved quality of cut.

Completing the order for Boughton is a powerful Groundsmaster 4000-D, but also included for Boughton’s ‘sister’ club, Etchinghill Golf Club, part of Pentland Golf Group alongside Boughton, are another two Reelmaster 3100-D mowers and a TriFlex 3400-D greensmower.

Set amid 167 acres of rolling countryside in the Kentish North Downs, Boughton Golf Club is in the perfect scenic spot for weddings and events. Gary tells us a 40-bedroom boutique hotel is under construction. Due for completion in 2019, the hotel brings a pool, spa facilities, restaurants and a new outside area along with water features and fire pits to the club, and will surely see increased footfall and even more eyes on the grounds.

Gary says: “Every aspect of the course and grounds will need to be at their best, all the time,” says Gary. “Footfall will increase as hotel residents use the course and as the hotel hosts weddings and events. I have no doubt that Toro is the perfect partner for us to achieve the best with.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Fencing Panel Proves Popular

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Fencing Panel Proves Popular: Garden owners have made it clear that they value peace and quiet when spending time outside, with the popularity of the panel increasing rapidly across the country, with sales so far in 2018 double what they were in 2017. The panels are designed in a clever manner to reduce nuisance sounds such as barking dogs, road traffic and noisy neighbours by as much as eight times, whilst still offering style and affordability.

This is the first DIY acoustic panel on the market, and is readily available via national retailer’s websites for delivery directly to consumer’s homes. The panel can be fitted as a replacement between existing fence posts or as a new fence run. Tests show that the panels can achieve a reduction in the noise level of as much as 30dB.  Each successive reduction of 10 decibels is equal to halving the noise level, so it is easy to see that they can have a very dramatic effect. It is no surprise, therefore, that the product scooped Best Garden Landscaping Product prize at the Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Association (GIMA) Awards in 2017.

Fencing Panel Proves Popular

The popularity of the panel doesn’t just come down to its noise reducing performance, though. It is also blessed with great looks that belie its hidden capabilities. Each panel is 180cm high and 183cm wide with the boards mounted vertically (making it a standard 6ft panel size).  However, the panel looks equally as attractive with the boards running horizontally with which arrangement it is 180cm wide so can replace standard sized European panels.

The thick (17mm) interlocking tongue and groove boards are smooth planed and moulded into a triangulated shape.  These are mounted within a 45mm thick rebated frame to ensure there are no gaps for noise to pass through.

Each panel is FSC certified and carries a 15-year anti-rot guarantee.

“This fencing brings peace and quiet plus privacy back to gardens subjected to unwanted noise,” says Nicola Simpson, head of marketing for Forest Garden. “The success of the fencing since its launch is a reflection of the uniqueness and innovative design of this product. It offers an affordable and ready to use solution to reducing noise pollution, which has really struck a chord with the public.”

The panel retails at £119.99 and is are available at selected stockists nationwide.

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