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Toro Brings The Wow Factor

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Toro Brings The Wow Factor And More Members To Chevin Golf Club – Chevin Golf Club’s first Toro fleet has brought the wow factor to an already impressive course and according to course manager Andy Mellor club membership has increased. 

Toro Brings The Wow Factor

The 18-hole course six miles north of Derby, which is a mix of parkland and moorland, has long impressed its players for its good test of golf over 6000 yards. However, when Andy joined the club a year ago, from St Austell Golf Club in Cornwall, he felt he could take the club to the next level by bringing in Toro.

“The course was in a good state when I arrived, but as with everything I felt there were some areas where improvements could be made,” he says. “We’re a part-parkland course and one of the problem areas was the finish we were getting around the trees and on the roughs. I have used Toro before and I thought the answer to the problem would be the Groundsmaster 7200, and I’m pleased to say I was right. The accessibility it gives is fantastic, it’s in and out of the trees in no time. The range of cuts is extensive and that has allowed us to create a more bespoke cutting regime and a much smarter aesthetic on the roughs.”

Joining the GM7200 in the deal are the Greensmaster TriFlex 3400, Groundsmaster 4700-D, Reelmaster 3100-D, Reelmaster 3100-D with Sidewinder, Reelmaster 5510-D fairway mower and the ProCore 648 aerator, and Andy comments it is “a good selection of machines that work really well together”.

But making a particularly good impression with the five-strong greenkeeping team is the Reelmaster 3100-D with Sidewinder, with Andy calling it “the machine of the moment”. Andy says the machine earns this high praise because of the option to shift the cutting units from side to side: “The Reelmaster and Sidewinder combination is a winner. Being able to move the cutting units left and right gives an extra 24 inches and increases the overhang for trimming. The team finds this particularly beneficial when it comes to maintaining the bunkers and lakes and ponds. There’s no risk of damaging the walls because the weight is balanced away from the edge, and of course therefore there’s less risk that the machine and operator may tip into the bunker or lake!”

He continues: “Bringing in Toro has eliminated all the niggles and little problems remaining on the course and as a result playability is further improved. Member retention is excellent and since Toro came on board, 60 new members have joined.”

It’s not just the machines though, the service from dealer Cheshire Turf Machinery has played a large part in Andy’s satisfaction. “I had a fantastic relationship with the Toro dealership Devon Garden Machinery who covered my previous club and the backup and support from Cheshire Turf Machinery here has been brilliant, too,” he says. “Nothing is too hard for my contact Chris Halley and it’s clear Reesink Turfcare takes a great deal of care over which dealerships to work with.”

Next for Chevin is an increase in utility vehicles. Quotes from Cheshire Turf Machinery are in and the wheels are in motion for Chevin to have a completely Toro red fleet.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Jeremy Corbyn Tweets Support To KCOM Groundsmen

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What KCOM Groundsmen Say As Jeremy Corbyn Tweets Them His Support

What KCOM Groundsmen Say As Jeremy Corbyn Tweets Them His Support

Darell, 55, was says he was also told he was being sacked for working as a kit man for Hull FC while Mark claims he was told another reason for his dismissal was down to ordering too much grass treatment product and for allowing casual workers to turn up and repair divots in return for a match ticket.

Both men insist they did nothing to warrant their dismissal and were never given any warnings beforehand.

They say they are not looking for compensation but just want their jobs back, and have set up a crowdfunding page to hire Gosschalks Solicitors to fight their case and take their bosses to an employment tribunal which has so far raised £5,900.

In a tweet this week Mr Corbyn said: “Support Darrell & Mark in their fight for justice & to be reinstated to the jobs they love, for the clubs they love.”

Darrell and Mark are both delighted to receive such high profile backing.

In a statement they said: “We are obviously delighted that Jeremy Corbyn publicised our case to his 1.3 million Twitter followers. We are very grateful for that.

“We hope it means more people will now visit our crowdfunding page and donate. We remain committed to fighting for justice and to get our jobs back.

“Now that we know the Employment Tribunal hearing is at the end of October we know we have four months of hard work ahead. When we get support from somebody like Jeremy Corbyn it gives us a huge lift.”

In a joint statement, the two men previously told the Mail: “We wouldn’t normally be able to afford a legal challenge like this against such formidable opposition. There is no access to legal aid and we didn’t earn big salaries so we hope the people at SMC understand why we had no choice but to take this route.

“We look forward to the day we can hold our heads high again and get back to work providing both Hull City and Hull FC with a playing surface both clubs and their fans can be proud of.”

Darrell, of Sproatley, previously said: “This is a job I have done for 27 years and there was no indication anything like this was coming.

“Both myself and Mark have worked for the SMC for 16 years. We have never been in any troubled or had any reprimand so this came out of the blue.”

The Stadium Management Company has denied the two men were unfairly dismissed.

The employment tribunal will be held from October 25-27. Their campaign has been called Pitch For Justice and you can go to their crowdfunding page to donate.

To read the original article from Hull Daily Mail, click here

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Worcestershire’s Smart Cut Wins Wychavon District Council Contract

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Worcestershire’s Smart Cut Wins Wychavon District Council Contract – Specialist grounds maintenance business Smart Cut Limited has retained the open spaces and verge maintenance contract with Wychavon District Council following a competitive tender.

Worcestershire’s Smart Cut Wins Wychavon District Council Contract

This is the fourth successive contract Smart Cut has won under a competitive tender in recent years.

This latest contract for the maintenance of open spaces and verges, critically involves Smart Cut providing a dedicated team made-up of eight team leaders with a number of supporting operatives, to carry out all works across Wychavon District Council.

The team will undertake all grass maintenance work throughout the 664km2 Wychavon district, which includes the towns of Droitwich Spa, Evesham, and Pershore.

The scope of works to be delivered by Smart Cut under the Wychavon contract includes grass cutting on designated verges and open spaces, shrub bed planting and maintenance, management of the annual tree planting programme, stream and hedge maintenance work, and weed control.

Smart Cut, which has its head office, workshop, machinery store and training facility at Bishampton near Pershore, is part of the £5million annual turnover Smart Cut Group, and has worked for Wychavon District Council on many of its maintenance contracts since the company was founded in the early 1990s. The relationship originally began when Smart Cut’s founder Tom Rimell started The Vale Golf Course in 1989 and the maintenance contract transferred to Wychavon District Council from the DSO.

Lynn Stevens, Senior Parks and Greenspace Officer of Wychavon District Council, commented: “Smart Cut has given Wychavon good service over many years, and we’re pleased that the company has been successful in retaining the contract.

“We know that Smart Cut’s staff work well with our Greenspace Officers to effectively sort out work programmes and day-to-day schedules, and that they are very good at responding to emergencies or last-minute problems. Furthermore, Smart Cut was able to demonstrate its continuing relevant and extensive expertise, labour, resource and quick response times in the event of queries with a live, online system at its heart to deliver even speedier responses and solutions.”

Commenting on the contract win, Smart Cut Director Tom Rimell added: “Wychavon District Council was looking for a supplier with a robust environmental policy embedded in its day-to-day operations and Smart Cut’s green waste recycling systems, in place for 20-years, and our suite of tried and tested machinery and bespoke recycling bays at our Pershore base, adequately fulfilled this important, specific contract requirement.

“Not only are we able to meet all of the contract supplier criteria in this way, Smart Cut also has an enviable track record of delivery and service for Wychavon, and recently has won at least four successive contracts all under competitive tender, which I believe shows and demonstrates the quality of our work and customer service.

“We are of course delighted to have retained the contract, especially following a highly competitive tender process.”

The company’s Commercial Manager Dawn Wallis, added: “Smart Cut Ltd is thrilled to have retained the WDC verges contract once again, which I believe serves to reinforce an already strong relationship forged over many years.”

Smart Cut is a grounds maintenance contracting business specialising in all areas of grass care to include mowing, scarifying, seeding, verti-draining, fertilizing, spraying, and its team also undertakes tree planting, shrub bed planting and maintenance, hedge trimming, path edging, and hard standing spraying.

Since it was founded in 1994, Smart Cut has grown into a Group comprising five companies with a combined annual turnover in excess of £5 million, employing over 100 staff, providing grounds maintenance and landscaping services to a wide variety of customers across the West Midlands, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, including local authorities, district and town councils, sports centres, schools, pubs and housing associations.

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Another Franchise For Price Turfcare

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Price Turfcare, the recently established business founded by Ransomes Jacobsen’s former International Sales Director, Rupert Price, has been awarded the UK and Ireland distribution rights for the Ryan range of turf maintenance equipment.

Another Franchise For Price Turfcare

For an initial six-month period from June 2017, Price Turfcare will be the joint distributor together with existing distributor, Ransomes Jacobsen. Following the successful transition at the beginning of 2018, Price Turfcare will become the exclusive UK distributor of Ryan branded products.

Supported by a group of former colleagues with over 100 years of experience in the groundscare sector, Price Turfcare has bespoke warehousing and distribution facilities near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, with excellent road links via the A14 trunk road to all parts of the UK and to Europe’s largest container port at Felixstowe.

Pat Cappucci, President and COO of Schiller Grounds Care said,

“I’ve known Rupert for many years and he is hugely respected within our industry. He has 20 years of experience, mostly in senior sales management positions with Ransomes Jacobsen, so he knows our product portfolio very well. His decision to form his own company was a considered one; he has recruited a group of former colleagues with similar experience, to provide sales, parts and service support.

“We thank Ransomes Jacobsen for the great job they have done over the years, but having a dedicated and focussed sales operation in the UK is vitally important for this Schiller brand. Concentrating on our products, and the complementary Ventrac product, gives Price Turfcare a portfolio of equipment to help golf, sports turf professionals and lanscapers create and maintain pristine playing surfaces. We are delighted to appoint Rupert and his team as custodians of our products and our reputation in the UK and Ireland.”

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Total-play Ltd Welcomes New Technical Consultant To Its Team

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Total-play Ltd welcomes new Technical Consultant to its team – Sports turf specialist total-play Ltd has bolstered its team with the appointment of Shaun Anderson in the newly created role of Technical Consultant.

 Total-play Ltd Welcomes New Technical Consultant To Its Team

Based from the Northants Head Office, Shaun will be responsible for the design of non-turf sports facilities to meet the needs of clients whilst also reaching standards required by the various governing bodies for sport; including the company’s three ECB approved non-turf cricket pitch designs.

His appointment comes as the firm continues its rapid growth. A market leader in the design and installation of non-turf cricket pitches for match play and practice it also provides extensive natural cricket pitch services. The company is now expanding into specialised sports areas (MUGA) and athletics facility provision on the synthetic surfaces side and supporting this will be a key element of Shaun’s role.

With a career that encompasses 17 years in the Royal Engineers specialising in road and air field construction, followed by civil engineering roles in the solar and peak power plant industries, Shaun brings vital skills to the team. His experience working on high specification projects and taking into consideration factors such as geology, materials, rainfall and drainage will all prove invaluable in the design of first class sports facilities, as MD David Bates explains:

“When recruiting for this role we were looking for an individual who would fit well within the team as much as a sports background – Shaun fits the bill perfectly and his experience on diverse, complex projects will translate very well to the design of artificial sports surfaces.”

 Meanwhile, Shaun comments:

“I am really looking forward to being part of a small tight, team that achieves the build out of a large number facilities to a high standard from cradle to grave, and can’t wait to get my teeth into my first project.”

 For more details on total-play’s range of products and services, visit www.total-play.co.uk

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