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Buxtons Named New Kubota Dealer

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Buxtons Named New Kubota Dealer: Kubota UK is pleased to confirm it has further strengthened its extensive dealer network having joined forces with Staffordshire-based groundcare and arboriculture specialists Buxtons.

The appointment of Buxtons is part of Kubota’s ongoing investment to ensure its market leading range of high performance groundcare machinery is supplied through an independent dealer network that is committed to a first class service offering.

Buxtons Named New Kubota Dealer

The new partnership means Buxtons will now supply Kubota’s complete range of high quality and innovative groundcare solutions, from walk behind, ride-on, out-front and zero turn mowers, to Kubota’s industry leading compact tractors and its durable and rugged RTV utility vehicles. This includes Kubota’s recently launched range of BX Series, B1 Series and B2 Series sub-compact tractors, and the new ZD1211 zero turn ride-on mower.

Neale Hopley, Managing Director of Buxtons said: “We are absolutely delighted to become a Kubota dealer. Although we previously supplied groundcare equipment, our range was limited.  This new relationship with Kubota enables us to significantly expand our business, giving us the chance to target a much wider range of commercial sectors including local authority, education, equestrian and the sports turf market.

“These are exciting times for Buxtons. The Kubota brand is synonymous with quality, durability and reliability, with a fantastic reputation for innovative, cost effective and hard working machines.  It’s a trusted brand that turf professionals know will get the job done and not let them down. We are extremely excited to be working in partnership with Kubota and are looking forward to growing our business with them.”

Adrian Langmead, Business Development Manager for Kubota UK’s Groundcare Division said: “Here at Kubota we pride ourselves on having a dealership network that is second to none. By signing Buxtons up as a new dealer we can extend our reach across a 30-mile radius throughout the Staffordshire area, enabling us to secure key accounts within the commercial market.

“Buxtons is a well established and respected dealership, so it was a natural fit to partner with an organisation whose commitments reflect our own. We’re looking forward to the longevity of this partnership, enabling Buxtons to provide both residential and commercial customers with the highest quality Kubota machinery, Kubota Care, Kubota Finance and aftersales services and parts.”

Buxtons has already received significant interest in Kubota’s machinery, securing a number of orders from both commercial and residential customers at its recent open day, which saw over 100 potential and current customers attend.

For more information on Kubota and its extensive range of groundcare solutions visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.

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Leamington GC Chooses Foley

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Leamington GC Chooses Foley: The search for continual improvement is high at Leamington & County Golf Club, with the ambitious team of head greenkeeper and general manager looking towards the Foley ACCU-Sharp 605 for cost saving, plant health and ease of use.

The duo of head greenkeeper, Jason Cooper, and general manager, Bryan Frazer, make a formidable team through their understanding of each other’s role in maintaining and elevating one of Warwickshire’s finest parkland courses.

Leamington Golf Club Chooses Foley

The most recent display of their common objective was bringing grinding in-house with their first ever on-site grinder. Criteria were drawn up, the options examined, and the result now sitting proudly in the workshop sporting a familiar green and black, is the ACCU-Sharp 605 spin and relief grinder.

Bryan is the driving force behind what is a progressive and forward-thinking club that is always trying to improve for its members, but also the outside golfing world. His aim, by providing Jason and his team with equipment they need, is to improve on the already high standards and create new competitions by building a reputation for excellence.

Women’s golf is an area Bryan is particularly focused on and it is his hope that Leamington & County Golf Club will be able to attract some of Britain’s top female golfers in years to come – but the improvements begin by improving the course.

“The core thing for us was that buying the grinder through a finance deal was a no cost option because we already had a cost for contracting. This on-going expense is now gone, and the fixed term means we will be cost free within five years,” Bryan said.

“Our point of view on is that by learning new skills and having our own machine it would be cheaper than the winter service work and provide us with the flexibility we need to offer more events.”

“Ian invited us to Farol’s (John Deere dealership at Hinckley) for a demonstration of their Foley grinders, and it didn’t take me very long to say to Jason ‘We could definitely use this grinder to raise the quality of the golf course.’ and along with the new drainage schemes underway, we will be able to sustain a better course for the same money and then look at how we offer that to our members and the wider golfing world.”

Of the numerous considerations in the decision-making process, the most crucial for Jason was the time it would take to learn and operate the grinder for first time users. After going through training with ProSport UK’s Ian Robson, himself and two of his staff quickly realised the simplicity of operation.

Jason explains: “Learning to use the machine has been fine.. Two of us are more mechanically minded than the other that’s using it, but I wanted him on board so someone who knows the process is always on site. He found it incredibly easy and intuitive to use, with the direct training provided by Ian to explain the basics. We’ve got it on a rotation system where one strips the unit down, one does the grinding and then the other person rebuilds, and we swap it around so we all get used to it.

“The really interesting aspect we have discovered, is the concept of relief grinding, but once you understand the principle, it makes perfect sense to take grinding from basic sharpness to a whole new level of excellence. It gives us that ongoing improvement in the quality of the cut, we reduce disease, we reduce fungicides, we reduce pesticides and gain a lot of flexibility.”

All these positive benefits will allow Jason to pursue his goal of having the course at the same high standard for the entire season, whilst also allowing Bryan’s vision for the club and what they can offer to expand.

Jason continues “We can plan when we’re going to grind now, for example before our main club event. We can give the cylinders a quick sharpen and we’ll have a nice crisp clean cut. We can work with this flexibility and see what we can achieve. If a mower goes off cut or the reel is damaged we aren’t waiting for a day and half for it to be fixed, we can turn it around ourselves and get back up and running within a few hours.”

Looking for ways to improve is a very strong part of the clubs continued success and by working together Bryan and Jason hope to elevate the course and fulfil its potential, and both view the acquisition of the ACCU-Sharp Sharp 605 as a vital part of that progression.

For more information, visit: www.prosportukltd.com

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Murray’s Zero Turn Mowers

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Murray’s Zero Turn Mowers: One brand that can offer affordable and efficient, zero turn lawn tractors is Murray. Murray products have been getting the job done for in excess of 90 years. Today, as a member of the Briggs & Stratton family of outdoor power products, Murray wears its brand proudly as the “Get it done. Go have fun.” lawn and garden equipment.

Murray zero turn mowers operate by two handles on each side of the machine; each with a push/pull function for forwards and reverse movement. Each handle is linked with two individual rear wheels, each with its own independent motor, which allows the tractor to turn within its own footprint. This allows for excellent manoeuvrability when cutting around trees, flower beds and other obstacles, with the added bonus of removing the need for backing up at the end of each mowing pass – simply spin 180° and go back!

Murray's Zero Turn Mowers

There are three zero turn mowers in the Murray line up. The entry level machine is the ZTX110 which has a hydrostatic drive and is powered by a Briggs & Stratton 7200 OHV V-Twin engine. It is the smallest in the range but still offers a 107cm cutting width, and seven different cutting heights.

The mid-range model is the ZTX150, which features a Briggs & Stratton Intek™ Series 7220 V-Twin OHV petrol engine. This machine, with three blades, offers a 117cm cutting width and 13 cut of height positions.

The premium model in the Murray range is best suited for professional users or those with lots of grass to cut. The ZTX250 utilises a Briggs & Stratton Professional Series™ 8270 V-Twin OHV engine and has an incredibly wide deck of 122cm to reduce the total amount of cutting passes required, and subsequently saves the user time.

All Murray zero turn machines have a fuel capacity of 11 litres, as well as electric starting and mulching capabilities. They are designed with the user in mind, even down to the adjustable seat which gives the operator ultimate comfort even on the roughest terrains. They include commercially inspired features such as a fully welded steel frame, a thick-walled front axle, easy access maintenance points and durable steel mower deck to make sure they give a great cut, time after time.

There is also the additional option of an integrated rear cargo bed to provide on-the-go versatility and convenience, allowing you to carry addition tools or somewhere for cleared debris.

Murray lawn and garden products are available in the UK exclusively through Henton and Chattell dealers. For more information please visit www.murray-tractors.co.uk.

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Award For Clay Cross Groundsman

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Award For Clay Cross Groundsman: Another prestigious award has been snapped up by Lee Watson, the groundsman for Clay Cross Town Football Club.

For Watson has been named Derbyshire FA groundsman of the year for the third time, and will now go on to try and win again the national award, which he landed in 2015.

“This is a fantastic achievement by Lee,” said Jamie Griffiths, marketing and communications officer for Derbyshire FA. “It is reward for his brilliant work this season.

“Lee was also the national winner three years ago, and he will be hoping to repeat that feat later in the year.”

The competition was open to non-league clubs playing on step seven of the non-league ladder. Clay Cross play in the North division of the Central Midlands League.

The aim of the awards is to recognise and reward groundsmen who dedicate endless hours to improve grass pitches in Derbyshire. Most of them work as unpaid volunteers.

Nominations were received from several clubs, with the runner-up being Kevin Harlow, of Hilton Harriers, and third place going to Phil Toy, of Wingerworth Junior Sports Association.

In addition, Barry Newton and Roger Kerry, joint groundsmen at Alfreton District Amateur Sports Club, were deemed to be highly recommended.

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New Creeping Ryegrass Cultivar

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New Creeping Ryegrass Cultivar: Germinal has upgraded a selection of its established landscape and sports turf seed mixtures with the addition of Zurich, a new-for-2018 creeping perennial ryegrass cultivar, which offers increased wear tolerance and fast sward recovery.

Zurich creeping perennial ryegrass provides excellent wear tolerance, persistence and recovery due to its creeping growth habit.  Scoring 6.5 for live ground cover and 6.3 for visual merit, Zurich is one of the best-performing creeping perennial ryegrasses on Table S1 of the BSPB’s Turfgrass Seed 2018 booklet.  It is a fine-leaved variety that also exhibits high resistance to insects and nematode attack due to naturally high endophyte levels.

New Creeping Ryegrass Cultivar

Zurich features as standard in Germinal’s A30 Rapid Sports Renovator Plus* and A20 Creeping Perennial Ryesport** seed mixtures and is a useful addition for long-term pitches ranging from Premiership training grounds to school and municipal pitches.

Zurich has also been added to three of Germinal’s landscaping seed mixtures; A3 Embankments and Droughts, A18 Road Verge & Embankmentsss and A19 All Purpose Landscapingsss.

“A3 has traditionally been the industry’s go-to seed mixture for stabilising embankments due to its high percentage of creeping fescues and bentgrasses which bind the soil together,” explains Richard Brown, Amenity Sales Manager for Germinal.  “The addition of Zurich gives this popular seed mixture the added benefits associated with a perennial ryegrass: speed of establishment, the ability to germinate in colder temperatures, and the ability to rapidly recover from damage caused by excessive wear.  For A18 and A19, the addition of Zurich further enhances the ability of these mixtures to recover from wear with minimal intervention.”

“Zurich exhibits an excellent creeping habit, which not only enables sports pitches to rapidly recover from excessive use, but also binds manufactured soils together quickly and effectively thereby preventing gully erosion and loss of soil.  It’s ability to self-regenerate gives added protection during the winter and slowly helps damaged sports pitches and landscaped green areas to repair themselves with minimal additional physical intervention.  It also makes the improved seed mixtures more effective in cooler temperatures at the beginning and end of the growing season.”

For more information, visit: www.germinal.com

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