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‘Augusta Syndrome’ Solution

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‘Augusta Syndrome’ Solution: Each year, `Augusta Syndrome` can cause greenkeepers grief as the new golf season gets underway.

Those pristine greens and fairways millions marvel at during the Masters tournament can trigger despondency in even the most upbeat greenkeeper.

'Augusta Syndrome' Solution

Not at Harpenden Common Golf Club however, where, on the eve of the first of the Majors, the turfcare team is gazing over lush greens to rival those of Augusta National itself.

“We are enjoying our fastest-ever start-up to the season in our history,” states Course Manager Steve Brocklehurst. “The recovery we are experiencing is fantastic. Our greens look magnificent and members are amazed by the quality so early on in the year.

“In terms of colour, grass growth and coverage, the greens are in their finest condition in my 45 years at the club.”

The transformation follows the club’s switch to a soil biology management approach introduced by treatment specialists Soil Biology Ltd.

“We’ve applied products unique in the sector to reduce and control rootzone pH,” explains Soil Biology lead scientist Hillery Murphy. “This allows the grass plant to take up vital nutrients such as calcium, manganese, silicon and magnesium more readily, even in cold conditions. It is these nutrients that support the biological process.”

Head Greenkeeper Sean Brocklehurst adds: “The course looking this good this early gives us a head start in retaining members and attracting new ones.

“Subscriptions fall due around this time of the year and if golfers can see a level of visual definition between greens and approaches they would only expect to see at the end of April or early May, they may well want to join up now.

“Also, we can start management practices earlier in the year as the sward is already strong enough to take our triple mowers and we can begin Verticutting sooner.”

Hillery Murphy continues: “The pH in the rootzone on many courses is simply not low enough to promote thatch degradation and soil biology. Our Springload rootzone and Flex foliar treatments with added biostimulants reduce the pH of the spray water and that of the rootzone to trigger the early start-up.”

As another cold front threatens to push back onset of the 2018 golf season, Harpenden Common and other courses that adopt Soil Biology’s twin-pronged turf and rootzone treatment can enjoy watching top golf on Augusta National’s manicured holes without the notorious sector syndrome gripping them.

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Sprayer Operator Award Announced

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Sprayer Operator Award Announced: The Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator of the Year 2018 Awards (AFSOY) are once again open for entries. Now into year four, the awards were established by the Amenity Forum and aim to recognise the high levels of professionalism and standards in the sector. There are different categories for entries and the overall winner will have a choice of three fantastic prizes, including a trip to a world-leading US turf or amenity show, or £2000 worth of products. Sponsored by ICL and Syngenta, and supported by BASIS, the Awards were established to further promote high standards of operation standards by sharing and disseminating the best practice employed by these individuals.

A record number of entries were received for the 2017 Awards with the overall winner announced as Nathan Hume, Contracts Manager and Ecologist for national grounds maintenance experts, SH Goss Ltd. Nathan received his award at BTME in January 2018, following the announcement of the three principal category winners at the Amenity Forum Annual Conference in October 2017. Nathan chose a trip to the USA as his prize and will fly to Louisville, Kentucky in October, to visit the Green Industry & Equipment Expo. He said:

Sprayer Operator Award Announced

“Just taking part in the awards was a great experience. As with all operations, it’s important to review and appraise what we do and how we can continually improve. The recognition of the awards is good for our company and for our customers to appreciate the effort that goes in to achieving a great result. As well as the awesome chance to visit the US.”

Talking about the Awards, Amenity Forum’s independent Chairman, Professor John Moverley said: “Past winners have demonstrated the high level of competence and attention to detail among sprayer operators. They have showed the skills necessary to get the best possible results from every application, and how to achieve it safely with due care for the environment.”

ICL Landscape and Industrial Manager, Mark Pyrah said: “We know that there are many great operators doing a fantastic job every day,” he added. “The awards is a way to recognise their skills and to shine a spotlight on their role. Sharing their best practice means that everyone can gain.”

Syngenta business manager, Daniel Lightfoot MG, pointed out that sprayer operators’ skills are key to achieving the most effective results. He said: “It’s not awarded for having the newest machine or the latest gadgets – it’s about understanding what needs to be done, and how best to achieve it safely and efficiently. We have had some great entrants in previous years, who have continued to get better from the experiences they have gained. There is huge potential reward from getting involved and entering the awards.”

Organisations and companies are encouraged to nominate candidates in addition to self-nomination. The process is not difficult.

Entries and nominations are invited from sprayer operators in three categories:

  • Sports turf – Using a knapsack/boom sprayer
  • Landscape and Industrial – Using a vehicle sprayer
  • Landscape and Industrial – Using a knapsack sprayer

Each category winner will receive a trophy and the overall winner across the three categories will win the prestigious accolade of National Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator of the Year along with the choice of three prizes:

  • Flights, accommodation and entry to GCSAA 2019 San Diego, California
  • Flights, accommodation and entry to GIE Expo 2019 Louisville, Kentucky
  • ICL/Syngenta products to the value of £2,000

To enter or nominate, download the application form or enter online via the Amenity Forum website www.amenityforum.co.uk

Entries and nominations need to be made by 30 June 2018. After submitting an application form, successful entrants will be invited to answer a short questionnaire. Selected category finalists are judged on best practice and innovative ideas to improve and enhance spraying operations. Category finalist are invited to the Amenity Forum Conference in October, with the overall winner announced at the BIGGA BTME event next January.

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New Striped Lawn Tradition

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New Striped Lawn Tradition: The key to the perfect striped lawn is a cylinder mower and for more than 50 years, cylinder lawnmowers from Allett have been creating quintessentially English lawns all over the world.

The key to this success has been Allett’s speciality in designing and manufacturing precision, single-cylinder, walk-behind mowers. Until now, Allett’s mowers have traditionally been powered by petrol, with some products also available as electric models. However, Allett has added lithium-ion models to its range with its Liberty battery powered mowers, allowing gardeners to create the perfect striped finish without the need for the noise and fumes of petrol.

New Striped Lawn Tradition

The Liberty lawnmower, which has already received rave reviews from both professional and domestic users, is available in three different models – the 30cm, the 35cm and the 43cm. All three feature a rear roller which creates the stripes, and are powered by Allett’s 40 volt 4Ah lithium-ion battery that can recharge from flat in 1 hour 45 minutes.

The Liberty 30 push mower is the entry level option  for small to medium gardens. It has a five blade carbon steel cylinder and a 32 litre grass box capacity. Also well suited for small to medium gardens, but offering more features, is the mid-range Liberty 35. The Liberty 35 is a self-propelled model to enhance the ease of use for the operator. It is compatible with the Allett Lawn Care cartridge range of the aerator, lawn brush, scarifier, dethatcher, verticutter and 10 bladed cutting cylinder for the complete lawn package.

The final mower is the Liberty 43 which is the top of the range model. With a self-propelled feature, steel front roller and double section rear roller with geared differential it gives the ultimate in cutting perfection. To compliment this, it has a vast 62 litre grass box collection. Like the Liberty 35, it is also compatible with the Allett Lawn Care cartridges.

Discussing the battery powered additions, managing director of Allett Lawnmowers, Austin Jarrett commented: “Here at Allett we are incredibly proud of our roots and the tradition associated with our lawnmowers, however that needn’t mean we don’t evolve our offering. Battery powered products have significant benefits – not just for the environment but also for users. They are incredibly convenient and offer significant power without compromising on the cut quality that our machines are famed for.”

For more information please visit www.allett.co.uk.

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Credit Only Arrives In Adverse Circumstances

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Well the clocks have sprung forward, spring has arrived and greenkeeping and grounds keeping teams throughout the land can witness the results of their winter programmes.

There is a belief, particularly in golf, that greenkeepers do little more than paint a few marker posts, indulge in a little tree management and improve their three dart average over the winter period but while their hours tend to be a little different from spring and summer the autumn and winter periods are key to all year round performance.

A message from Scott!

And it is fair to say that it is also the unseen work done in the “off-season” by grounds teams which ensures superb surfaces on pitches in all sports.

It must be frustrating to have jokes about the card schools and darts leagues but they happen because so often the work done is carried out unseen by the end user.

I’ve equated the world of turf professionals to that of wombles or borrowers, whose main aim is not to get in the way or be seen but to produce an end result which is exactly what was demanded but one which no one really notices.

A prime example was the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in 2010. Had it all gone swimmingly – as happened at Gleneagles four years later, there would have been nothing but the odd platitude and verbal pat of the back. But because the weather was of Biblical proportions and very nearly wrecked the entire event Jim McKenzie, his team and an army of greenkeeping volunteers, were hailed as miracle workers for engineering the possibility of a Monday finish. Jim was even honoured with an MBE as a result.

So sometimes credit only arrives in adverse circumstances.

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ClearWater System At Fleetwood GC

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ClearWater System At Fleetwood GC: Terry Booth, Head Greenkeeper at Fleetwood Golf Club, was thrilled to be given the “go ahead” to order a ClearWater system recently.

The club, aware of current legislation concerning washpads and pollution prevention, wished to upgrade their facilities and believed, having read a number of articles, that a washpad water recycling system would be the future-proof solution. After a number of years, it was finally decided that funds could be made available and Terry Booth with director Brian Geddes researched the project. Details and prices were obtained, visits made and systems viewed and considered. BTME, incidentally, played an important part initially in the process as supplier stands were visited and information gathered. At BTME this year matters were finalised and an order placed for a ClearWater system soon afterwards.

ClearWater System At Fleetwood GC

Fleetwood lost no time and arranged delivery soonest having decided to “self-install” using their local experienced contractor. Terry explained that the cost savings offered on self-install by Acumen with ClearWater would be most welcome. Matthew Mears, Acumen ClearWater’s sales and development manager, visited the club soon after the show to discuss installation and delivery arrangements. The system was promptly installed and in action, much to the delight of Terry and his staff! He’s happy to show it to others interested too.

Brian Geddes expressed interest in the ECA (Enhanced Capital Allowance) scheme and the fact that the WTL (Water Technology List) approved ClearWater system qualified. Under the scheme, businesses can write off 100 per cent of the cost of qualifying plant and machinery against taxable profits in the year of purchase. This can bring significant financial savings and reduce the business’ impact on the environment. Treasurer Andy Cartwright will be “on the case” said Brian!

Despite the savings available with self-install and the ECA scheme, it was encouraging to learn that “the number one factor for buying ClearWater” as Terry put it “was the people I have dealt with and the first class service received. We have built up a good relationship.” People and Service do matter in any business relationship and not everything can be done over the internet either!

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