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NEWS ARTICLES

The winners of the Golf Environment Awards 2017 have arrived back in the UK

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Alex James (Frilford Heath Golf Club), Edward Ainsworth (Avro GC) and Adi Porter (Greetham Valley GC), travelled with STRI ecology and environment specialists, Bob Taylor and Sophie Vukelic, to visit some of the most environmentally conscious golf clubs in Portugal.
Host Alexandra Almeida, of the Portuguese Golf Federation, organised visits to golf courses, so that the winners could gain a further understanding of the role that biodiversity plays in European golf course management.

Environmental Golf Course of the Year 2017 winner representative, Alex James, said: “When I was told that I’d be going on the GEA winners trip to Portugal, it was described as a once in a lifetime experience. Sometimes phrases like that are thrown around without any substance to back it up… well this time that phrase doesn’t even come close to describing just how amazing it was. It was more than a once in a lifetime trip, it was life changing!”

Almeida arranged visits to Espiche Golf Club with Greenkeeper Paulo Coelho, San Lorenzo Golf Course with Greenkeeper Carlos Santos, Monte Rei Golf Course with João Goulão and Luis Pinto, and Onyria Palmares Golf Resort with Joel Nunes, who has recently been elected as President of the Portuguese Greenkeepers Association.

Edward Ainsworth, Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year tweeted: “A very exciting moment for me, seeing and capturing on camera my first Swallowtail butterfly @EspicheGolfSA last week with @golfenvawards.”

The greenkeeping teams led the winners on an educational tour of the facilities, to highlight their sustainable initiatives. Alex James, said: “I was guilty of thinking that the GEA awards are mainly about bird boxes and bug hotels, but it is so much more than that! Yes, these things are important to promote wildlife and help the environment, but so is turning off heaters, using energy saving bulbs, moving irrigation water in the most efficient way, and recycling waste. All of these things help the environment, and we should all take a look at what we do and ask ourselves how we can do it better. We have a collective responsibility to be the best that we can possibly be.”

On his return, Adi Porter said: “This trip has been so inspirational and I will be taking so much back to my own club to help us do more to become more sustainable. I have learnt that it only takes small changes to make a massive difference!”

STRI’s Sophie Vukelic, said: “Yet again, the winners trip was a delight for all involved. This year’s winners continued to be enraptured by the knowledge shared by their Portuguese counterparts at some of Europe’s most environmentally sound golf clubs. We all shared ideas for creating a more sustainable business, from water-saving techniques to nature conservation initiatives and visitor experience. Indeed, the trip highlighted more than ever the need to understand that ‘sustainability’ incorporates so much more than bird boxes and wildflowers.”

STRI would like to thank the sponsors of the GEA 2017 for their continued support, Ransomes Jacobson, Farmura, Syngenta, Tillers Turf and Wiedenmann.
STRI recently announced that The R&A has agreed to become lead partner of the Golf Environment Awards. Entry for the 2018 awards is now open. For more information on the GEA, or to submit your entry, visit https://golfenvironmentawards.com.

Jacobsen Impresses

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Ipswich, Suffolk (11 April 2017) Jacobsen, a Textron Specialized Vehicles brand, showcased a range of machinery at the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) Turfgrass Management Expo held at Pattana Golf Club in Thailand.

More than 250 course superintendents, club managers and industry representatives from 21 countries attended the event. Guests visited the Jacobsen stand on the golf course to experience some of the latest innovations from the renowned turf equipment manufacturer. The machinery being demonstrated included the AR3, the Truckster XD, the GP400 riding greens mower, the LF570 light fairway mower and the Eclipse2 122F pedestrian mower showing the pioneering frequency of cut adjustment system.

Representing Jacobsen was Annie Boriraj, South East Asia Regional Sales Manager, Li Meng Sheng, Product Support Manager and Josh Gagnuss, Product Support Manager. Ten sales and service representatives from local Jacobsen dealer Shriro (Thailand) supported the event.

“It has been another fantastic event,” Boriraj said. “We have had lots of interest in the machines that we have been demonstrating and we are pleased that we have been able to share our passion for innovation and customer experience with industry professionals in this region.

“We also organised a small networking session with refreshments, which more than 40 golf course superintendents attended. We would like to thank AGIF for organising this event, our dealer Shriro (Thailand) for its support, and to everyone who visited our stand to take part in our machinery demonstrations.”

In 2016, the AGIF organised Turfgrass Management Seminars and Field Days in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Plans are to run at least another five in 2017.

The AGIF has confirmed that the Vietnam Turfgrass Management Seminar and Field Day will be held at Hanoi’s BRG Legend Hill on April 27-28 with the Philippine Golf Course Management Conference at Cavite’s Orchard Golf and Country Club taking place on May 4-5.

About Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.
Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of golf cars, utility and personal transportation vehicles, snowmobiles, side-by-sides, all-terrain vehicles, professional turf-care equipment, and ground support equipment. Textron Specialized Vehicles markets products under the E-Z-GO®, Cushman®, Arctic Cat®, Textron Off Road™, Jacobsen®, Dixie Chopper®, Ransomes®, TUG™, Douglas™, Premier™ and Safeaero™ brands. Its vehicles are found in environments ranging from golf courses to factories, airports to planned communities, and theme parks to hunting preserves.

About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Off Road, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit www.textron.com.

Sherriff Amenity Support Cricket Events

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Sherriff Amenity recently underlined its commitment to educating and supporting volunteers in the turf industry after proudly sponsoring both NatWest’s CricketForce initiative and The Surrey Grounds Support Network (SGSN) Conference.

NatWest’s CricketForce is the largest annual volunteering initiative in UK Sport which aims to rejuvenate the nation’s cricket facilities. It encourages cricket supporters, their friends and families, and local businesses to give something back to their local community cricket club by volunteering to participate in major renovation projects to clubhouses and grounds.

Streatham & Marlborough Cricket Club, based in Dulwich London, was the latest showcase club to be chosen by the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) for 2017’s NatWest Cricket Force, and over one hundred volunteers turned up to show their support.

Families from all ages were joined by the former legendary English cricketer Mike Gatting, England and Middlesex fast bowler Steven Finn and England and Surrey all-rounder Zafar Ansari, as they all pulled together to work on a number of projects such as a total re-fit of the kitchen, adding lighting to path and garages, painting all external fencing, the installation of new toilets and a general spruce up of the car-park, pavilion and bar areas.

As proud sponsors, a number of Sherriff Amenity representatives also took time out of their busy schedules to help the cause and worked alongside staff from Lister Wilder and Dennis & SISIS to help prepare the pitch for the season ahead – in which it was rolled, scarified and fed with fertiliser.

Commenting on the event, Chris Turpie – amenity specialist for Sherriff Amenity said: “The goal for the cricket club was to create a more welcoming environment for members and guests, and I believe it successfully achieved this. Obviously we were delighted to sponsor the event, donate some bags of seed and fertiliser and help prepare the pitch for the season ahead. I’ve also said that we are more than happy to go in and volunteer more of our time – to continue helping them along the way where we can.

“It was a great day for people of all ages; everyone played their part and there were even ECB coaches in attendance to run activities with the kids. It is, quite simply, a brilliant initiative which is going a long way in taking care of the future of cricket in our country.”
As long-term supporters of the Surrey Grounds Support Network, Sherriff Amenity was also delighted to play a key role in the recent annual conference which was held at The Kia Oval.
The conference, which supports recreational cricket from grassroots up, saw over 95 delegates in attendance all hoping to gain advice on cricket groundsmanship, and Sherriff were on hand to offer their expertise.

“Predominantly the conference consists of well-meaning volunteers,” said Sherriff Amenity’s James Watson. “We are there to offer advice on their own projects and try and guide them with their nutrient and chemical decisions and their seed choices, so that they are getting the best value for the money that they have got available to them – which in most cases is extremely limited.

“These are the guys that need the most help because they haven’t gone through an official training channel to become qualified groundsmen as such. These are the people that live in the village and suddenly they find themselves in charge with next to no knowledge or budget.”

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

Spring Has Sprung !

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Buy 4 Rain Bird Eagle Rotors and get one extra FREE!!

As irrigation systems across the country get fired up and tested in preparation for the 2017 season this special Rain Bird Spring offer is perfectly timed.

The industry leading Eagle range of rotors offer the very best quality, efficiency and durability so take advantage of this offer which is valid throughout April and May.

It covers the Eagle range of rotors including 351B, 700B, 700E, 751B, 751E, 900E & 950E.

The offer is based on the purchase of Rain Bird rotors within the same family, for example if you buy four 751E rotors you will actually receive five 751E rotors !

For further details, conditions and how to claim this deal contact the LWS team on 0345 230 9697 or email simon@lws.uk.com

Out There Chooses John Deere Out-Fronts

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Out There Services, located in Co Antrim in Northern Ireland, has invested in a new fleet of 15 John Deere commercial out-front rotary mowers. The 1580 TerrainCut models, all equipped with 62in cutting decks, were delivered this spring by Lisburn based dealer Johnston Gilpin & Co.

Formerly known as The Landscape Centre, Out There Services is now Northern Ireland’s biggest landscaping and public sector grounds maintenance contractor, with services also including tree surgery, landscape design and environmental management. The company’s broad client base includes housing associations, residential and retail developments, government bodies and local councils, schools, hospitals and sports pitches.

In addition to organisations such as PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland), Northern Ireland Water and NI Housing Executive, DARD (Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture) and CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise), Out There has recently signed two new grounds maintenance contracts, one with Viridian Housing Association in central London and another with Perthshire Housing Association in Scotland, as part of its policy of expansion and diversification.

The new machines replace a previous fleet of 15 John Deere 1565 front rotary mowers that were acquired on a John Deere Financial four-year contract hire package. By contrast, the current models have been bought using a hire-purchase facility provided at a very competitive rate by the company’s bank, Danske Bank in Belfast, which has been applied across the whole business, says Out There’s financial director Bronagh Vallely.

“Once we reached the end of the original four-year contract hire period and needed to replace the mowers, we decided we didn’t want to be tied to the same type of deal,” she explains. “Some machines will do more work than others, and some will still be capable of doing a year or two more depending on the hours, so we wanted the flexibility to look at each machine individually and decide what was best for the business.

“We didn’t find contract hire was a particularly good solution for us. In our business, working in a variety of public open spaces, we deal with some very rough grass conditions compared to golf clubs, for example, so we have to be able to allow for that when buying and trading in our equipment.

“We’ve actually returned to using HP,” adds Bronagh Vallely. “We can still take advantage of the capital allowances from a tax perspective and we own the machines at the end of the finance period, so we have the flexibility to decide whether to retain or replace them at that point.

“With HP we know the interest charges, so everything is budgeted for in advance over the four-year finance period. For this new purchase we also separately agreed and fixed prices with Johnston Gilpin for parts and servicing, which makes it easier for us to budget for the total fleet maintenance costs.

“The grass growing season just gets longer every year and we often start cutting in January, so reliable dealer back-up and servicing is so important. We know Johnston Gilpin’s sales manager Ricky Neill can deliver what we need whenever we need it, to help keep our machinery fleet working to its full capacity throughout the year.”