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Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings

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Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings: Ticking the boxes for build quality and ease of use is a Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck for the team at Newmarket Racecourse.

Not only that, the new delivery by Vanmac in June 2024 complements a pair of Progressive TDR-15’s and – at 50% wider – has contributed to significant savings in both labour and fuel-usage according to Estates Manager Alan Hatherley.

Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings

Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings

An iconic stop on the equine circuit, Newmarket Racecourse comprises of two courses – The July Course and Rowley Mile – which, between them, play host to 37 race meets between April and the end of October. Alan has been working on the site for 20 years, and for the last 12 of those, has been using solutions from Progressive for mowing the 28-hectares of racing surface.

“We’ve always been really impressed with the build quality and the aftersales service we get with Progressive, but with managing challenges with the weather and ever-tightening mowing windows, the time was right to add something wider” explains Alan, who heads-up a team of nine grounds staff. “We went straight to Vanmac and spoke with Jeremy Vincent about the TDR-22/6 tri-deck.”

The TDR-22/6 tri-deck roller finishing mower from Progressive combines productivity with performance – its 22 foot (6.7m) combined width, and front and rear rollers, and unique 6 blade rotors per deck deliver a precise and balanced cut, outstanding presentation and unbeatable contour following ability. “This, like our previous mowers, is well-built, not over-engineered and easy to maintain which, in practical terms, gives us a mower that’s user-friendly to operate and generally means fewer things to go wrong!”

Alan continues, “As soon as the TDR-22/6 tri-deck arrived at the end of June we were out with it straight away, to make the most of the time saving element. Where it used to take us nine hours to mow all areas of the two tracks, we can now complete the job in six. That doesn’t just reduce labour and give us a better chance to mow ahead of forecasted rainfall, it presents a significant reduction in fuel usage which is a big step towards reducing our environmental footprint.”

“We don’t cut when it’s wet but will mow as and when required throughout the year so, a mild winter for example, will see us continuing to mow in December. With the TDR-22/6 tri-deck, we know we can confidently get the job done quickly and effectively, no matter the ground conditions.”

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Makita trimmer stands poles apart

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Makita trimmer stands poles apart: The new cordless 40VMax XGT UN001G Brushless Pole Hedge Trimmer from Makita provides a lightweight and powerful option for cutting thick branches. Its performance capability comes from its 40Vmax XGT Li-ion battery and thick shear 600mm blade. In addition, professionals will appreciate smart, practical features that include an adjustable blade angle as well as a reverse function to clear jams.

One of the latest additions to Makita’s growing and reliable outdoor range, the XGT UN001G Pole Hedge Trimmer has been specifically designed for heavier load applications. Featuring a sharper three-facet obliquely ground blade (double sided rough cut type), the UN001G provides up to 4,000 cutting strokes per minute. With its 3-speed design, the trimmer offers an impressive maximum cutting diameter of 20mm. The angle of the head can be adjusted in six steps between 45o upward and 70o downwards. A new lock-off lever mechanism has been added as an additional safety feature and the machine also features an auto power off function to prevent accidental start-up if is left unused for a period of time.

Furthermore, the tool is significantly lighter than other trimmers currently available on the market at just 4.7 – 5.9kg, which means cutting thick branches overhead is made easier and more convenient. The inclusion of a grease nipple and the fact that oil can be supplied with a grease gun, without removing the bolt on the oil supply port, makes maintenance hassle free. Finally, when not in use, it can be folded down for easy transport and storage.

“The UN001G Brushless Cordless Pole Trimmer represents everything Makita is known for: performance and quality,” explained Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK. “It is IPX4 compatible and has been designed to help professional landscapers and grounds maintenance teams to tackle thick branches, even at height, with ease from ground level. Efficient and effective, it’s another high-performance addition to our expanding 40VMax XGT range.”

To find out more about the UN001G 40VMax XGT Brushless Cordless Pole Trimmer and other Makita products visit: www.makitauk.com.

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Successful dealer days at Carden Park

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Successful dealer days at Carden Park: Managers from some of the largest groundscare contractors in the UK and over 50 representatives from Ventrac’s UK dealer network attended demonstration days at the Carden Park Resort in Cheshire recently.

Hosted by the UK importer, Price Turfcare, the event was split into two days; the first day exclusively for contractors and the following day for the dealer staff.

Successful dealer days at Carden Park

Successful dealer days at Carden Park

This was the largest gathering of Ventrac equipment ever assembled in the UK and provided the Price Turfcare team with the opportunity to demonstrate to both groups that Ventrac is so much more than just a mower.

Both days followed a similar format with a mid-morning ‘meet & greet’ over coffee followed by a presentation on the Price Turfcare company and the Ventrac product offering from Managing Director Rupert Price. Following a light lunch, the afternoon sessions were dedicated to demonstrations of the numerous attachments in the Ventrac range and the opportunity for delegates to operate some of the equipment.

Interspersed between the demonstrations, there was the opportunity for delegates to use some of the extensive sporting facilities at Carden Park, which included axe throwing and archery. A convivial dinner completed each day.

Commenting at the conclusion of the second day, Rupert Price said,

“I was absolutely delighted with the success of the meeting. The first day was the ideal opportunity to demonstrate to the contractors present, some of them existing customers, that Ventrac is much more than a mower. It’s a multi-tool with a wide range of attachments that can add definitely add value to their business. We had eight tractor units and over 20 attachments and it was the biggest gathering of equipment we’ve ever had at one location.

“The second day was the first time, since we launched the business back in 2017, that we were able get our UK dealers together. We have had unprecedented success with this product, in fact there are now well over 400 machines operating in the UK today. Many of the dealer staff present have sold multiple machines and I wanted to remind some of the others that this a unique piece of equipment and once demonstrated, there’s a high percentage of a sale. It was also an opportunity for some fun, with axe throwing and archery proving particularly popular. Thankfully we had no casualties!

“Carden Park was the ideal venue and Peter Pattenden, the Golf Courses and Estate Manager, and his team were very accommodating in allowing us to use their facilities. They could not have been more helpful and they allowed us to use the trencher, stump grinder and power rake; pieces of equipment that are quite aggressive, enabling some of the delegates to see them in action for the first time.

“All in all, a very successful couple of days.”

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BIGGA relaunches Your Course

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BIGGA relaunches Your Course: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has relaunched Your Course – the magazine that invites golfers to gain a deeper appreciation of what preparing and maintaining a golf course really involves.

Your Course is a twice-yearly print offering produced by BIGGA, the UK’s membership association for golf greenkeepers, in collaboration with 18 Players, the golf publishing specialists who also produce BIGGA’s monthly journal, Greenkeeper International.

BIGGA relaunches Your Course

BIGGA relaunches Your Course

With copies landing in golf clubs in spring and late summer each year, Your Course explores the most relevant topics relating to golf course management. In forthcoming issues, the maintenance of bunkers, greens and water hazards will be tackled alongside cutting-edge features on climate change, autonomous mowers, technology and legislative challenges.

This will create an ever-growing resource that informs golfers about what it takes to maintain a modern golf course and the challenges faced by the greenkeepers at their own facility.

Golfing venues of all shapes and sizes across the UK will be featured, with a clear message that every golf course is different but that well-supported greenkeepers have both the training and knowledge to present outstanding playing surfaces.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “Campaigning on our members’ behalf is one of BIGGA’s key mission statements and we found Your Course to be an extremely effective tool when it was introduced back in 2018. I am delighted that with the support of our publishing partners at 18 Players, we are now able to reintroduce Your Course to golf facilities across the UK. I hope the print product and growing online database again become a valuable resource for anyone interested in what goes on behind the scenes at a modern golf course.”

Dan Murphy, Director at 18Players, said: “We are proud to work with BIGGA and we relish the opportunity to work on Your Course again and help to share greenkeeping expertise in a way that resonates with golfers.”

The lead feature in the relaunch edition is a fascinating conversation with the Ryder Cup player turned television personality Ken Brown, who worked as a greenkeeper early in his career, and offers some fascinating and forthright insight from his lifetime in the game.

Alongside the print magazine, BIGGA is building a database of articles and other resources that are intended to be read by golfers and shared by those interested in the industry, as a means of raising awareness for the activities of greenkeepers. This content can be viewed under the Resources tab of the BIGGA website, www.bigga.org.uk. 18 Players will also share the content directly with a consumer audience via their flagship website www.nationalclubgolfer.com under the Club banner.

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Achieve a Perfect Pitch with Mansfield Sand at SALTEX

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Achieve a Perfect Pitch with Mansfield Sand at SALTEX: Visitors to the Mansfield Sand stand (E150) at SALTEX 2024, taking place on 30 and 31 October at the NEC, Birmingham, will have the opportunity to explore a comprehensive range of sand-based products designed to enhance the health and performance of sports pitches.

With over 170 years of expertise, Mansfield Sand has been at the forefront of developing premium silica sand-based products. The company offers a wide array of innovative solutions for sports, landscaping, and equestrian applications, including stadium and training ground facilities, championship golf courses, and world-class show jumping arenas.

Achieve a Perfect Pitch with Mansfield Sand at SALTEX

Achieve a Perfect Pitch with Mansfield Sand at SALTEX

At SALTEX, Mansfield Sand’s industry experts will be available to discuss how their products can transform your sports turf projects. Key products on display will include:

Reinforced Rootzone

Mansfield Sand’s Reinforced Rootzones are engineered to maximize the use of natural turf surfaces while meeting the high standards required by today’s sports industry. The reinforcement technology used in these products provides enhanced stability and durability, ensuring that sand-dominated rootzones remain free-draining and consistent across the entire surface.

The range includes:

Fibre Reinforced Rootzone – reinforced with polypropylene fibres for added strength.

Fibrelastic Rootzone – combines polypropylene fibres with flexible Elastane fibres to enhance surface resilience.

Fibresand – ideal for maintaining surface integrity when grass cover is reduced due to heavy usage or winter wear.

Sand Soil Rootzones

Mansfield Sand is dedicated to helping turf managers achieve the ideal surface condition week after week. Their Sand Soil Rootzones are crafted from high-quality materials, ensuring exceptional results whether used for renovation or construction. The Mansil 40 Silica Sand blended with screened topsoil creates an optimal rootzone foundation.

Sand Compost Rootzones

For projects requiring a rootzone rich in organic content, Mansfield Sand offers a range of premium sand compost blends. These products are designed to retain nutrients and enhance drought resistance, promoting healthier, more resilient turf.

Top Dressing

Tailored for the fine turf market, Mansfield Sand’s Soil Top Dressing combines their superior silica sands with top-quality soils. The mixture is sterilised and screened to create a smooth, stone-free dressing that is easy to apply. Custom dressing blends and soil amendments are also available to meet specific turf management needs.

Mansil Silica Sand Sports Range

Mansfield Sand’s Mansil range of silica sands, sourced from their Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield, is essential for constructing and maintaining a variety of sports surfaces, from winter sports pitches and golf courses to bowling greens and other amenity turf areas.

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

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