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NEWS ARTICLES

Otterbine Soaring High at Eagle Resorts

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Thanks to the Otterbine Gemini proving itself reliable as a water aerator and display fountain in lakes at Tracy Park Golf and Country Hotel, Old Thorns Golf Club and Lythe Hill Hotel, estates manager Kevin Boxall says Otterbine is a firm part of Eagle Resorts, the parent company’s, future plans as it looks to increase its portfolio from 12 golf courses and hotels to 20 within the next three years.

“We are a rapidly growing company with plans for group expansion and investment in our existing venues,” says Kevin. “I am responsible for overseeing the works on all our sites and for specifically managing a £2 million investment in Tracy Park in Wick, near Bath, as we develop it into one of the nicest golfing destinations in the UK.”

With such a big job it is important for Kevin, who has been estates manager with the Eagle Resorts, which also owns Castlemarty in Cork, Ireland and Chart Hills in Kent for two years, to have trustworthy and reliable suppliers and products. Otterbine contractor TopTurf Irrigation has been working with Kevin for many years providing “excellent service and installation and only providing us with a product suitable for our requirements,” says Kevin.

The product concerned is of course Otterbine: “We have used Otterbines on all our courses for many years and we’re very happy with the product, quality of workmanship and after-sales care. Otterbine comes highly recommended by our irrigation company TopTurf and over the years it has proved itself to be reliable, providing the display we require and keeping the water in our multiple venues clean and clear.”

Designed to give the best of both worlds by offering function and beauty, the Gemini surface spray aerator can operate in as little as 75cm of water and can move over three times as much water than decorative patterns, thanks to its open-throat propellor design. It is particularly popular with golf courses and commercial complexes thanks to its ability to provide an attractive display, including three pattern options including the Sunburst and Saturn displays alongside the Gemini, with the capability to easily manage aquatic environments.

With short-term plans for “a few more Otterbine installations at Tracy Park” and long-term plans extending to Otterbines for the “other golf courses we will be buying in the coming years”, one thing Kevin can be sure about over the major development and investment work and expansion on the cards it’s reliability and quality, plus clean, clear, healthy water and a fountain display to appeal to all wherever he chooses to install an Otterbine Gemini.

Winter a thing of the past at Wembley, thanks to Bernhard

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Achieving optimum spring and summer growing conditions year round can now be achieved at Wembley Stadium thanks to Bernhard’s innovative SubAir aeration and moisture control system. Wembley’s hectic fixture and events schedule creates a unique set of issues for FA Head of Grounds and Estates, Alan Ferguson. The grass is often covered for events, effectively starving the plant of essential nutrients, sometimes giving Alan and his team just three weeks to complete renovations and grow-in new turf to get the pitch match ready. 

Whilst grow lights and Bernhard’s TurfBreeze fans play their part in this remarkable turnaround, the award winning groundsman believes SubAir to be the biggest contributing factor in promoting a healthier root zone and a stronger plant, enabling Alan and his team to rapidly grow-in a new pitch, especially during the winter months.

“My first time seeing surfaces that used SubAir Systems was at Augusta National Golf Course and New York Mets’ City Field,” Alan begins.

“I was impressed by the cleanliness of the root zone because there were no disorders or black layer in them. They had very little or no fungal activity, the oxygen levels were high and it seemed to be a whole new way to aerate the root zone without having to use a machine on the surface. 

“Without disrupting the surface we can deliver one of the most effective aeration programmes in the country because we’re not going to put machines on the pitch. I had a desire to keep a spring/summer feel to the root zone all year-round to help deal with the recovery from the intensity of the programme the pitch has to endure. 

“Now we have great growing conditions all year-round, we’ve essentially eliminated winter. We’re producing more grass now than we were in July and August, consequently we only use Spring and Summer products on the pitch because we don’t have the issues you’d associate with winter. We are effectively producing the pitch 100% artificially

“We wanted to hold the root zone temperature at 16-17 Celsius, and by doing that we can germinate grass seed within 4 to 5 days compared to the normal 10-14 days, so that gives us quite an advantage in germination times.”

The Sub Air System brings many benefits including the ability to control the temperature of the root zone. It allows users to easily manage water usage whilst controlling the water delivery to the root system. Excessive rainfall can also be dealt with by using the system to take the water down through the root zone 36x faster than any other method.

Being able to provide the optimum balance of oxygen and moisture to the root zone is integral when growing and maintaining world class playing surfaces such as Wembley.  Alan’s initial desire to quickly grow-in a new pitch, even during the winter months, has been realised. 

He explains: “We are here at the darkest, coldest time of the year [November to January] and we have a standard of pitch that you would expect in July and August. It’s put us in such a different place, to the point that we’re considering taking on additional events, and we’re confident we can manage that now.

“We had comments from CSKA Moscow before they played Tottenham in November saying they thought the pitch was as good as first day of season. We wouldn’t have been able to do that if we couldn’t manipulate and control the root zone, thanks to SubAir we now have optimal growing conditions year round.”

The greenkeeping diaries: Wentworth

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We talk to Kenny Mackay about how he keeps Wentworth in shape..

Name: Kenny Mackay

Club: Director of courses, Wentworth

What have you been up to?

We have completed Phase 1 of a major renovation project at our flagship West Course. The green renovation and rebuild took place over a six-week period. We are the first club in England to introduce a Sub-Air system across 18 holes, giving the greenkeeping team full control of moisture levels all year round.

We have fully upgraded the existing irrigation system and drainage across the course and re-modelled the bunkers. We are now looking forward to Phase 2, which will see upgrades to the paths and roadways around the course.

What don’t golfers understand about your role?

Golfers never fully appreciate the impact of adverse weather conditions on the course, especially during winter months. The work that goes in just to keep a course in the UK playable is immense.

If you could ask golfers to do one thing, what would it be?

It is generally the most basic golfing etiquette rules. Repairing pitch marks and replacing post and ropes after playing shots are big ones.

How has the job changed over the years?

The most significant change I have seen is the increased use of technical information as part of the day-to-day job. Also, now that I am leading a team of 60, the role has become much more management-focused. It isn’t just the state of the greens that keeps me busy these days; it’s health and safety, budget control and just being a role model to the younger members of my group.

What is the best part of the job?

Working at Wentworth is the best thing about my job. Being part of such a prestigious club, so steeped in heritage is an honour. Plus, every greenkeeper wants to host the best players in the world and I get that opportunity every year with the BMW PGA Championship.

What challenges will you face with new pesticide rules?

We need to keep looking at new methods and alternative options available, although golfers will need to be more understanding of the restrictions on pesticide use.

To read the original article, click here

IOG Respond After Southend FC Groundsman Sacked

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The IOG is the professional body for groundsmen and groundsmanship in the UK; we care very much for our members – their well-being and professional respect and rights.

The dismissal of the Southend United FC groundsman, who is an IOG member, brings immediate questions and concerns – and we are engaged urgently in determining the facts behind this action, through appropriate enquiries.

The club’s action has attracted national media attention which reflects the shock across the groundscare industry with the sacking of a long-serving professional groundsman with over 27 years’ dedicated service to the club.

The club’s action appears to demean both the profession of groundsmanship and, of course, the individual concerned, who surely deserves more respect than appears to be the case, on the facts available so far.

Obtaining the necessary information is now an urgent priority for all of us at the IOG; to be able to provide the appropriate level of support to one of our members.

Jacobsen Launches GA600 Aerator

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Ipswich, Suffolk (17 January 2017) Jacobsen, the renowned manufacturer of turf maintenance equipment, has introduced the highly anticipated GA600 aerator at this year’s BTME in Harrogate.

The GA600 aerator is a truly versatile unit and is the first in a range of brand-new aeration equipment from Jacobsen. The deep tine aerator can work up to 3.4 km/h at a working depth of 30cm and a width of 1.8m. If used with the available AerStrike™ 4 Tine attachment system, productivity is further enhanced, allowing deep and conventional aeration in a single pass. Unique spacing on the AerStrike™ system creates tight 7.5cm patterns and eliminates the need for a turf guard.

The patented PerfectStrike™ tine arm motion provides perfect entry and exit of tines, achieving a truly straight hole. The geometry of the crankshaft and the tine arms allow for vertical entry of the tines into the ground. Coupled with cluster tine heads keeping tines at a distance to reduce tearing of the turf, the GA600 produces unrivalled hole quality. The truly versatile unit makes it perfect for use on greens, fairways and sports fields.

Lee Kristensen, Product Manager at Jacobsen said:
“We are delighted to have introduced the first unit in our new line of aeration equipment at BTME. A lot of research and development has gone into creating the GA600, and this is evident in the unique feature of being able to achieve deep and shallow tine aeration in one pass. We are confident that the new aeration range will be well received by the industry.”

The new aeration line has been designed to improve hole quality, boost productivity and enhance aeration performance over undulated surfaces; the short roller to tine distance ensures superior contour following. The GA600 allows turfgrass professionals to do the job once, and to do it correctly when time is of the essence.

For more information visit www.jacobsen.com