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Six Echo TM-2050’s transform the task of winter presentation

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Six Echo TM-2050’s transform the task of winter presentation: It’s not just the greenkeepers that are impressed with the fleet of six Echo TM-2050 robotic mowers installed by GroundTech at Hartsbourne Country Club, the members are too!

Less than a month after their delivery, players and staff alike have recognised the transformation in presentation of some of the club’s perimeter areas which previously proved near-impossible to maintain in challenging winter conditions.

Six Echo TM-2050’s transform the task of winter presentation

Six Echo TM-2050’s transform the task of winter presentation

Like many heavy clay soil courses, this 27-hole club in South Hertfordshire can often lay wet during prolonged periods of rainfall, creating problems in getting machinery out to regularly cut the rough and fairways. General Manager Terry Mulford-Lawlor explains that the knock-on impact extends well beyond the winter, “Both presentation and playability suffers and then, come the spring, the grass is so long and dense that it takes a lot of hard work to get them back to where we want them to be.”

“The proposition that the Echo robotic mowers could be cutting consistently whatever the weather was of great interest.”

Terry was assisted in his search by Marcus Glover and Sam Baker from GroundTech, along with Sam Daybell from Echo who paired the club with six TM-2050 robots with solar array and portable battery chargers. The largest of the Echo range the TM-2050 offers the pinnacle of productivity, capable of mowing areas of up to 75,000m2 while simultaneously providing precise mulching of material for an immaculate finish.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that these mowers have been a gamechanger for us. The intention was that they’d be used only for the rough. However, the GroundTech team mapped all of our fairways and with the results so outstanding we’d be mad not to use them everywhere.” Terry adds, “The work these Robots are doing has already freed up our skilled team of ten greenkeepers to then focus their efforts elsewhere,  hand-cutting areas such as aprons which we’ve not previously had the resources to do and focussing on the technical and agronomic aspects of course management that will take our offering to the next level.”

“Members have been quick to comment that the rough has never looked better, but what’s more they just love watching the robots at work – we’ve even been asked if it’s possible to name and sponsor them!”

Terry concludes, “The process from start to finish has been smooth, personalised and professional. GroundTech supported us and went the extra mile to ensure we had the right set-up and infrastructure to get the most out of our machines. They didn’t over-emphasise what the mowers were capable of, but then they didn’t really need to! We already see this is the future for us.”

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Club agree Avant partnership

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Club agree Avant partnership: Norwich City’s training base in Colney has been renamed the Avant Training Centre after the club agreed a new partnership with the UK branch of the Finnish-established company AVANT®.

AVANT®, who produce world-renowned articulated compact loaders, are long-term supporters of Norwich City having first partnered with the club in 2019. The new agreement will extend their support for a further three years until the conclusion of the 2026/27 season.

Club agree Avant partnership

Club agree Avant partnership

The grounds team at Carrow Road and the AVANT® Training Centre utilise AVANT® equipment on a daily basis and are set to be among the first to adopt the brand’s EV capabilities, which are currently in development.

AVANT® have a global presence that includes a base in Norfolk which has sold over 7,000 loaders to a broad spectrum of UK customers, including farmers, landscape gardeners, local authorities, equestrian owners, construction industry, arborists, private individuals and so much more.

Ed Turnham, head of sales and acquisition at Norwich City, said: “Whilst AVANT® are a Finnish brand, they are yet another business who have deep roots in Norfolk and the wider region, supporting some of our core industries, such as agriculture.

“With distributors in 60 countries and turnover of €300 million (£258m) worldwide, they are a significant global player, and we are excited to announce them as the named partner of our state-of-the-art training facility.”

Raimo Ala-Korpi, managing director of Avant Tecno (UK), said: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Norwich City, especially during a time when the club is deeply focused on its academy and talent development. The club’s ongoing commitment and investments in the training centre and academy strongly align with our own mission and values of fostering efficiency and productivity.

“Collaborating more with the operations and grounds teams further underscores this alignment. These are just a few of the many reasons why we are incredibly proud of our long standing partnership with Norwich City, and we look forward to extending this partnership for another three seasons.”

For more information, please visit www.avant.co.uk

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EcoBunker take on Icelandic challenge

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EcoBunker take on Icelandic challenge: Keilir Golf Club in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland has just completed the second phase of its bunker replacement project with industry leading synthetic faced bunker specialists, EcoBunker.

Faced with year round weather challenges and very harsh winters, the team at Keilir have been spending a disproportionate amount of their budget on maintaining the quality of their naturally revetted bunkers. Having received very positive feedback on EcoBunker’s work at Royal St. Georges, among other projects, Keilir invited the team to address the unique challenges of an Icelandic golf course.

EcoBunker take on Icelandic challenge

EcoBunker take on Icelandic challenge

“Maintaining the quality of traditionally revetted bunkers is such a time-consuming job,” commented Guðbjartur Ísak Ásgeirsson, Head Greenkeeper at Keilir Golf Club. “We face harsh conditions here in Iceland, and the work to keep the bunkers in good condition is difficult enough. When you add in the need for a re-build every 5 years, they eat up the maintenance budget in a way that just isn’t sustainable.”

“Keilir is such an incredible setting. The front 9 weaves a path through lava flow and the back 9 follows a small peninsular with views of a local glacier,” adds EcoBunker founder Richard Allen. “The major appeal of Keilir is the rugged landscape so I’m delighted with how our EcoBunkers have provided solutions to the maintenance challenges the team faced, while blending perfectly with the natural terrain. This has been a fantastic project for us and I look forward to the next phases.”

Phase one of the project took place this Spring with the creation of two new bunkers. Following very positive feedback from the members and maintenance team at Keilir, a further four bunkers have been installed this Autumn, with more planned for Spring 2025.

“It has actually been quicker to construct an EcoBunker that will last over 20 years than to naturally revett our bunkers. We’re delighted with the results and look forward to putting the new bunkers into play when we next open the course. I certainly look forward to a maintenance free season for our six new EcoBunkers!” concluded Guðbjartur.

For more information on how EcoBunker can help meet the maintenance and bunkering challenges at your course, visit www.ecobunker.co.uk

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Get hands on with Makita at BTME

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Get hands on with Makita at BTME: Makita will be back at this year’s BTME Show to showcase its high-performance range of battery powered outdoor equipment. Visitors to Makita’s stand located at Stand 132 Hall 1, will be able to learn more about the manufacturer’s recently launched robotic lawnmower as well as its impressive 40VMax and 80VMax XGT range.

Representing the ‘best in class’ in battery system solutions, Makita’s XGT range features an impressive line-up of products for greenkeeping, turf and grounds care that deliver increased output to tackle tough jobs with ease – without compromising on battery run time.

Get hands on with Makita at BTME

Get hands on with Makita at BTME

Currently, over 160 products can be used within Makita’s growing XGT platform that are all powered by the same battery, including lawn mowers, linetrimmers, blowers as well as a cordless scarifier. Users can tackle every task and switch between tools simply by changing over the battery.

Makita will be on hand at the show to demonstrate some of the key highlights from this impressive range. Visit the team at Stand 132 Hall 1, or find out more online at www.makitatools.com/products/xgt

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BIGGA thanks survey participants

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BIGGA thanks survey participants: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), has thanked the 1,141 individuals who participated in the association’s recent membership survey.

Responses were received from across the United Kingdom, with a further 7% of participants contributing from outside the UK. The survey attracted input from professionals at every level of the greenkeeping and turf management industry, with 44% of respondents identifying as course managers or head greenkeepers.

BIGGA thanks survey participants

BIGGA thanks survey participants

Notably, just under 30% of respondents indicated they were not currently members of BIGGA. Their feedback was of particular interest to the association as it seeks to gain a well-rounded understanding of BIGGA’s reputation within the industry and explores opportunities to enhance its membership offering.

Survey participants were given the chance to enter a prize draw to win a £500 Amazon voucher. Craig Denton, assistant greenkeeper at Lindrick Golf Club, was announced as the winner.

Craig said: “I was really surprised to win. I don’t usually enter anything, but I thought I had 10 minutes to spare, so why not? After completing the survey, I went into work and told the other lads to take part because it helps everyone – not just BIGGA but us greenkeepers as well.

“I think we all have to stick together and BIGGA tries very hard, especially with the education on offer at Harrogate. They need feedback from us members if they’re going to keep improving.”

This survey provided the biggest opportunity in a generation for those working in the turf industry to share their views on the future of BIGGA. Work is now underway to analyse the results and explore how the findings can be implemented.

Further discussions about the survey’s findings will take place at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in January 2025, where Scott Reeves, BIGGA Head of Membership, will present the results to attendees of the annual trade show.

Scott said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in our survey. We’re delighted with the strong response – 1,141 participants – which reinforces that BIGGA continues to play a vital role in the golfing industry. It’s also clear that greenkeepers are passionate about the association and the community it fosters. The hard work now begins as we analyse the results and consider how the findings can be adopted into the everyday practices of the association and our team.”

Greenkeepers and the wider turf management industry will have the opportunity to further discuss the survey’s findings at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, taking place in January 2025 at the Harrogate Convention Centre. More information and free registration are available at www.btme.org.uk

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