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Agrigem to Highlight Turf Health Solutions at GroundsFest

Agrigem to Highlight Turf Health Solutions at GroundsFest

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Agrigem to Highlight Turf Health Solutions at GroundsFest

Agrigem, a leading supplier of professional turf care, landscaping, and amenity products, has announced its presence at GroundsFest this year. Visitors to the event are invited to visit Agrigem at Stand 37 to speak directly with the company’s team of qualified agronomists and technical specialists.

Agrigem to Highlight Turf Health Solutions at GroundsFest

Agrigem to Highlight Turf Health Solutions at GroundsFest

In an industry where high-performing turf management demands precise, tailored solutions, Agrigem’s key differentiator is its deep technical expertise. The company provides direct access to qualified agronomists who can offer bespoke, science-backed advice to help achieve exceptional turf health year-round.

Whether you manage elite pitches, grassroots facilities, municipal parks, school grounds, paddock land, or commercial estates, Agrigem’s expert agronomists deliver practical, tailored advice that produces real, lasting performance on the ground.

Visitors to Stand 37 will have the opportunity to:

• Consult with Qualified Agronomists: Discuss specific turf care challenges, soil health requirements, weed/disease management, and seasonal treatment plans with certified technical experts.

• Explore Professional-Grade Products: Learn about Agrigem’s comprehensive range of professional fertilisers, herbicides, fungicides, seed blends, and soil conditioners designed for sports pitches, golf courses, and amenity turf.

• Get Tailored Advice: Receive expert guidance on product selection, application rates, and best practices to optimise turf performance and return on investment.

“At Agrigem, our core mission goes beyond simply supplying products. We focus on delivering expert advice and technical support that genuinely helps our customers solve complex turf issues,” said Ollie Wright, Technical Manager at Agrigem. “GroundsFest is a fantastic platform for us to connect face-to-face with groundskeepers and industry professionals. We encourage anyone looking to elevate their turf health or overcome specific management challenges to drop by Stand 37 for a chat with our agronomists.”

Agrigem will also be taking part in the BASIS Knowledge Trail at GroundsFest – allowing visitors to collect BASIS CPD points while gaining valuable insights and knowledge from exhibitors.

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Keeping Warwick Racecourse race-ready with Mansfield Sand

Keeping Warwick Racecourse race-ready with Mansfield Sand

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Keeping Warwick Racecourse race-ready with Mansfield Sand

For Guy Woodward, Head Groundsman at Warwick Racecourse, maintaining a safe and consistent racing surface is a year-round challenge. From heavy winter rainfall to prolonged dry spells, the demands placed on a jumps track require products that can be relied upon in all conditions.

Keeping Warwick Racecourse race-ready with Mansfield Sand

Keeping Warwick Racecourse race-ready with Mansfield Sand

That is why Mansfield Sand products have become an integral part of Warwick Racecourse’s maintenance programme. Having used the company’s materials throughout much of his career, Guy trusts Mansfield Sand’s rootzone and fibre-reinforced products to help deliver the performance, drainage and recovery needed to keep the track in prime condition.

Guy’s career in turf management spans almost three decades. After starting in racing at Sandown in 1997 as Assistant Groundsman, he progressed to Head Groundsman roles at Nottingham, Great Yarmouth and Newcastle before arriving at Warwick.

“It’s the weather that’s the biggest challenge,” he explained. “We’re either pumping water off or pumping water on to get a consistent racing surface. All the way through the winter we were battling huge amounts of rain, and then the taps turned off in March and we started watering.”

To help manage these changing conditions, Guy relies on Mansfield Sand’s 70/30 Sand Soil Rootzone during the winter months, and the company’s 60/40 Sand Compost Rootzone throughout the spring and summer.

The 70/30 Rootzone Mix combines 70% premium silica sand with 30% screened topsoil to create a stable, free-draining growing medium, while the 60/40 Sand Compost Rootzone blends premium quality Mansil 40 silica sand with PAS 100 certified green compost, providing enhanced moisture retention and nutrient availability during the growing season.

“We use the 70/30 and the 60/40 after every race meeting,” said Guy. “Our season starts in September, and we’ve just finished our last meeting. They’re used for repairs after every race day, and on heavy ground we can use up to 50 tonnes.”

The different characteristics of the two rootzones allow Guy and his team to adapt to changing seasonal conditions.

“The 70/30 Sand Soil is what I use in the winter because it doesn’t hold moisture,” he explained. “When the ground freezes, one of the problems you can have is repairs freezing into lumps, which can stop racing. The 70/30 Sand Soil is free draining, so it gives us better recovery and a better chance of racing in cold conditions.

“When I switch to the 60/40 Sand Compost, it holds moisture, which is exactly what you want in warmer temperatures. It helps retain moisture for seed germination and recovery, so it all helps the track recover faster.”

Alongside the rootzone products, Guy has also been a long-term user of Mansfield Sand’s fibre-reinforced materials.

“I’ve used the Fibresand and 70/30 Fibre Rootzone Landscape for many years, going back to my time at Nottingham and Newcastle,” he said. “We use the Fibresand on footpaths and canter-downs, and in extreme conditions we’ll repair problem areas with the 70/30 Fibre Rootzone Landscape to make sure we can continue to race.

When asked why he continues to choose Mansfield Sand products, Guy’s answer is simple.

“It’s the quality and consistency, It’s always spot on. I’ve used products from all over the country and Mansfield has always been superior. There just isn’t anything that can compare.

“With some products I have used in the past, you’d find stones, bits of debris, lumps of clay or weed seeds. Suddenly your track starts looking like a meadow. You don’t get any of that with Mansfield products. They’re weed-free and you know exactly what you’re getting every time.”

The dependable quality also helps improve efficiency for Guy’s team.

“It definitely makes the lads’ lives easier,” he said. “Instead of having to sort through product or remove stones and debris, they can just get on with the job.”

Equally important is the confidence that materials will arrive when required, particularly during a busy racing season when repairs need to be completed quickly.

“You can rely on it,” said Guy. “Whenever you need a delivery, it turns up. There’s never any doubt that you’re going to get what you need, when you need it.”

After many years of using Mansfield Sand products across several racecourses, Guy has no hesitation in recommending them to others.

Reflecting on the relationship, he added: “Mansfield Sand has been there as long as I’ve been doing the job and it’s always been a very, very good product. If I’ve got any questions to ask, my rep Louise Barrington-Earp is always there. She’s brilliant.”

For Warwick Racecourse, where track quality and safety are paramount, the combination of product performance, consistency and dependable service continues to make Mansfield Sand an essential part of maintaining racing standards throughout the year.

For more information, visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk, follow them on X at @MansfieldSand, or connect on Facebook and Instagram at Mansfield Sand Sport Surfaces.

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Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

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Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

Perched on the Northumberland coastline, Alnmouth Golf Club offers members a challenging mix of seaside and parkland play in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Head Greenkeeper Jim Storey has spent the last 27 years finessing that natural beauty, employing maintenance that supports both the long-term course management and local wildlife. For the last decade this work has included establishing wildflower areas and, more recently with the help of DLF Seeds, he says these have delivered both visual impact and ecological value.

Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

“Creating habitats and supporting wildlife has been one of our major objectives for the last 10 years” says Jim, who heads up a greenkeeping team of seven. “Using our collective knowledge and experience, the team and I have thinned out the roughs and created new spaces to support insects, pollinators, small mammals and birds. Our wildflower areas have become a really important part of that.”

Jim has worked with various mixtures from DLF’s Pro Flora and Colour Boost ranges to establish five wildflower areas, most recently adding a burst of colour and broad variety of flowering species with the Carnival mix. “We’ve selected spaces where we can compliment the surrounding landscape and really add to the experience for the golfers, especially on a nice sunny day!”

Another of the recent projects sits close to the first tee, where wildflowers have been established among areas of fine fescue and yellow rattle – creating a vibrant focal point adjacent to newly planted fruit trees. “We’ve now got pollinators working between the flowers and the fruit trees which is exactly what we hoped to achieve” he adds.

It’s not just pollinators enjoying the new wildflower areas. Jim continues, “We’ve definitely seen an increased in the number and variety of animals we’re seeing since the introduction of the wildflower. We’ve got all sorts of insect, voles and field mice which means, in turn, we’re also seeing barn owls. It’s been really fantastic to see.”

“We’ve also enjoyed speaking with agronomists and fellow greenkeepers about the project, learning about different flowers and getting ideas together to discuss with our DLF Regional Technical Manager Ben Morgan.” He concludes, “Every year we’ll look to add another area if we see an opportunity, which is only going to help us get richer in biodiversity with every passing season.”

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Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

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Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

Husqvarna technology is playing a crucial role in preparing The Belfry’s iconic Brabazon Course for the 2026 Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, as the venue builds towards the arrival of the DP World Tour’s leading players from 26–30 August.

Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

In the build-up to the championship, seven Husqvarna CEORA robotic mowers are maintaining the fairways of the four-time Ryder Cup venue, working consistently across the course to help produce the exacting standards required for elite tournament golf.

During the tournament week, Husqvarna will expand its operation considerably. A fleet of 15 CEORA robotic mowers will cut the championship fairways overnight, supported by a dedicated Husqvarna team working from 8pm until 6am. The team will transport the mowers to their designated fairways, oversee the overnight operation and collect the machines at the end of each shift.

Husqvarna CEORA, Automower® 580L and RELOX technology will also be deployed on the driving range, while a Husqvarna 535 AWD EPOS is maintaining the short game area to ensure the rough is always at optimal height for practice. Every machine used during the championship will be cleaned and calibrated daily, with blades changed each day to maintain consistent cutting performance throughout the event. The Belfry’s greenkeeping team is also using a comprehensive fleet of Husqvarna battery-powered handheld equipment, including leaf blowers, grass trimmers and hedge trimmers throughout its preparations. The brand-new Husqvarna 570iBT battery backpack blower will play an important role with 10 units being used to clear tees, bunkers and general course detailing.

The installation brings together autonomous mowing and professional battery technology as part of a modern, integrated approach to golf course maintenance. While robotic mowers deliver frequent and consistent cutting across large areas of turf, the handheld equipment supports the detailed work undertaken by the greenkeeping team around course furniture, including trees, bunkers and other areas that require a more precise finish.

The deployment also reduces reliance on conventional fossil fuel-powered equipment and provides the team access to quieter machinery with no direct exhaust emissions during use. This can help work to continue around golfers and other course operations with less disruption.

For Husqvarna, the installation provides a powerful demonstration of the company’s technology in action at the tournament for which it is Title Partner. Rather than being limited to branding around the event, Husqvarna products are directly supporting both the advance preparation of the course and its presentation throughout championship week. The dedicated overnight operation will put Husqvarna technology and technical expertise at the heart of maintaining the surfaces on which the tournament will be decided.

Andrew Lees, Global Segment Manager for Professional Robotics at Husqvarna, said: “The Husqvarna British Masters gives us an outstanding platform, but the most important story is what our technology is delivering on the ground. Our products are not simply being displayed at The Belfry, they are working every day alongside an exceptional greenkeeping team to help prepare one of the world’s most famous tournament courses.

“Following the success of our operation at Royal Porthcawl during the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, we are proud to bring the same level of tournament support to a very different venue. Every machine will be cleaned and calibrated and its blades changed daily, helping The Belfry present The Brabazon to a global audience at the first Husqvarna British Masters.”

Designed for large-scale professional turf management, CEORA uses satellite-based EPOS navigation to operate systematically within virtual boundaries. This produces accuracy to just 1cm, meaning fairways perimeters are delivered with high definition and confidence that the integrity of the fairway shape is maintained. CEORA’s autonomous operation allows mowing schedules and designated work areas to be managed digitally, giving course teams the flexibility to adapt cutting programmes around weather, playing schedules and operational requirements.

In the build-up to the event, the seven CEORA units at The Belfry regularly maintain the fairways without the need for a driver, supporting consistent turf presentation while freeing members of the greenkeeping team to concentrate on agronomic and detail-focused tasks elsewhere on the course. During the championship itself, fairway mowing will become a managed overnight tournament-support operation. Fifteen CEORA units will be transported to and from the fairways and overseen by Husqvarna personnel, allowing the fairways to be maintained outside playing hours while giving the tournament team daily oversight of machine condition and performance.

Husqvarna became Title Partner of the British Masters through a multi-year agreement announced earlier this year. The company is also the Official Robotic Mowing Partner of the DP World Tour, building on a partnership that has already demonstrated autonomous mowing technology on some of golf’s most prominent stages.

At the 2025 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, 15 Husqvarna CEORA robotic mowers cut the championship’s playing surfaces, marking the first time Husqvarna robotic mowers had performed this role at a major golf championship in the United Kingdom.

Hosted by six-time Major champion and Husqvarna Brand Ambassador Sir Nick Faldo, the 2026 Husqvarna British Masters will begin with the celebrity pro-am on Wednesday 26 August, followed by four days of championship play from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August.

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Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

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Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

When Chris McGhee took over as Course Manager at Pollok Golf Club in January, one of the first things he identified was the need to improve the heavily worn areas around the course.

Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

Founded in 1892 and situated on the south side of Glasgow, Pollok Golf Club is a traditional, tree-lined members’ course with design influences from both James Braid and Alister MacKenzie. While its rich history is part of its charm, it also presents modern-day maintenance challenges.

“Being designed so long ago, the spaces between greens and tees are quite small,” explains Chris. “On newer courses you might walk 20, 50 or even 100 yards to the next tee. Most of our tees are right beside the greens, so those areas get heavily worn, especially through the winter.”

With an active membership that continues to play throughout the colder months, alongside increased traffic from trolleys and ride-on buggies, maintaining grass cover in these high-traffic areas is a constant battle.

“It was one of the main reasons I wanted an overseeder,” he says. “I wanted something that would help bring these areas back quicker and improve the quality and density of the turf.”

That search led Chris to the Redexim Overseeder 3D 1575.

Having previously used Redexim equipment, including a Verti-Drain and a Redexim dimple seeder during his time working in Norway, Chris already had confidence in the brand.

“I’d worked with pretty much all of the disc seeders on the market,” he says. “For me, the Redexim offered the right balance of ease of use, practicality and price. We have a lot of trees and a lot of manoeuvring to do around the course, and I felt the 1575 was the best fit for our needs.”

Purchased in March this year, the Overseeder 3D 1575 has quickly become a regular part of Pollok’s maintenance programme.

Designed for use across a wide range of surface types, the machine features a seed delivery mechanism with single-point adjustment, while durable discs cut precise grooves into the soil before a rear roller closes the groove and covers the seed. The result is accurate seed placement, excellent seed-to-soil contact and consistently strong germination rates. An adjustable seed aperture accommodates a variety of seed types, which can be easily adjusted to accommodate a variety of different seeds.

At Pollok, the machine has been deployed extensively across tees, aprons, walk-off areas, grass pathways and other worn sections of the course.

“In all honesty, we’ve used it everywhere apart from the greens,” says Chris. “The walk-off areas and paths have probably been the biggest focus because they’re the areas that suffer most from wear, but we’ve used it across the course.”

The results have been immediate.

“It’s been a really good investment,” he says. “The strike rate has been brilliant. We’re mainly using ryegrass in these areas to improve wear tolerance and the germination has been excellent. You can see the lines very clearly and they establish quickly. There’s very little seed waste as well.”

Ease of operation has also been a major advantage.

“We’ve all used it,” says Chris. “Everyone in the team has had a go setting it up and adjusting the sowing rates. The instruction manual includes a table that makes calibration very straightforward.

“The hopper size is another big benefit. It holds around three full bags of seed, which means we’re not constantly stopping to refill or carrying bags around the course.”

The improvements haven’t gone unnoticed by club members either.

“The members have definitely commented on it,” he says. “They like seeing the seed lines because it gives them a visual indication of what’s being done and where the investment is going. We regularly share photos of the germination and recovery work through our WhatsApp updates, and people have been really positive about the results.”

Support from local dealer Hamilton Ross Group and Redexim also helped ensure a smooth introduction to the machine.

“Allen Whellans from Redexim came out with Paul Johnstone when it was delivered,” says Chris. “The training was excellent. It was thorough, easy to understand and focused on exactly what we needed to know. We were confident using it straight away. We always get great support from Hamilton Ross.”

After several months of use, Chris has no hesitation in recommending the Overseeder 3D 1575 to other turf professionals.

“The ease of use, the strike rate, the hopper capacity and the compact storage all stand out,” he says. “It’s very well built, very well made and it does exactly what it’s meant to do. That’s the most important thing.”

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/

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