Turf News is the perfect place for professionals working within the UK’s vibrant turf industry – keeping you up-to-date with topical news, latest market developments and much more across all areas of the industry.
NEWS ARTICLES

MM50 serves up a treat at Roehampton

/in , /by

MM50 serves up a treat at Roehampton: MM50 grass seed was recently selected for the construction of nine qualifying tennis practice courts and one show court at AELTC Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre Roehampton.

Formally the Bank of England Sports Centre, the site is managed by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. As well as hosting the Wimbledon Qualifying Event, the Club provides facilities for community sport and works with local schools and groups to host sporting activities, training sessions and matches from September to May.

MM50 serves up a treat at Roehampton

MM50 serves up a treat at Roehampton

Fineturf, a long-established, sports turf contractor, carried out the vast project at Roehampton due to its long-standing working relationship with AELTC. The project consisted of the construction of nine qualifying practice courts and one show court as well as irrigation to all surfaces.

Jim Coleman, Contracts Manager for Fineturf, explained why MM50 was the seed of choice for the project.

“For over 20 years, we have been using MM Seed. We chose them for this project and many past projects due to their quality and purity of seed. It was the only choice for us, and we have used MM50 on many previous tennis courts. It has always delivered excellent results.”

MM is one of the most respected brands in the UK amenity industry, with over 40 years of experience and knowledge. The extensive product portfolio is second to none with performance proven mixtures that are used at many leading venues in the UK and Europe.

MM50, in particular, is one of the UK’s biggest selling grass mixtures. The hard-wearing ryegrass mix is very fine leaved, has high shoot density, is tolerant to close mowing down to 4-5mm and produces a great colour all year round. It also has quick recovery from damage and play.

The Fineturf team applied MM50 at a rate of 70g per m2 in late summer at Roehampton and Jim quickly saw results.

“The 100% Ryegrass seed germinated quickly and was soon tillering out ready for its first cut – we have always found the germination speed good. The Headstart® GOLD seed treatment always seems to make a difference which can be very important when working to tight deadlines.”

As Jim says, Headstart® GOLD is a revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid germination. It benefits from minerals such as Phosphorus, Sulphur, Copper and Molybdenum which all help to stimulate root formation, development and growth ensuring that the seedling grass plant develops a strong root system during the critical start-up phase.

The project was another huge success for Fineturf and Jim believes he gets more than just a product from MM.

“We have a close working relationship with Matt Gresty (MM Sales and Marketing Manager) whom we have come to rely on for our technical back up with seed. Working with both MM and Matt during this project has been nothing but positive. Our relationship has grown and enabled us to complete many projects to the highest quality and outcome. We would highly recommend all MM products.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk.

You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Rams choose Mansfield Sand

/in , /by

Rams choose Mansfield Sand: Derby County Football Club have been using Mansfield Sand’s products for over 20 years and Head Groundsperson Paul Thompson has explained exactly why.

Derby County recently won the Sky Bet League One’s 2022/23 Grounds Team of the Season. It is a fantastic achievement for Paul and his team.

Rams choose Mansfield Sand

Rams choose Mansfield Sand

Paul has been the club for 15 years and now oversees the maintenance of the pitch at Pride Park Stadium and the Moor Farm Training Ground. He oversees a team of 12 members of staff, who all worked tirelessly to produce the best quality playing surface in Sky Bet League One.

Choosing the correct products to apply to the pitch played a part in their success and Paul revealed how products from Mansfield Sand have always had a place in their maintenance programme.

“Ever since I’ve worked at Derby County, we have always used Mansfield Sand products,” he said. “My two predecessors used the products and I saw no reason to change at all.

“Throughout the playing season at the stadium we use the kiln dried sand – DM40, and for renovations we use MM40 sports turf sand. We also use MM40 across the 12 pitches at the training ground.”

Both MM40 and DM40 are sourced directly from the Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield where the company produces its renowned Mansil range of Silica Sands. MM40 is a moist, medium sand which is predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces. DM40 is of the same consistency and quality as MM40 but is kiln dried.

“We always keep a couple of tonnes of DM40 on site, so it is there when we need it, but we tend to apply 10 tonnes in November, and another 10 tonnes in January to the stadium pitch.

We have a SISGrass hybrid system, and the kiln dried sand helps dilute any of the algae build up on top of the surface. It also helps with the playability and drainage.

“Everything that has been delivered over the years has always been clean and ready to use straight away – I wouldn’t expect anything else from Mansfield Sand.”

Mansfield Sand is a company with history and pedigree – in fact, its origins can be traced as far back to 1840. It has been a long-standing pioneer in the development and production of premium sand-based products and boasts the most up-to-date and advanced equipment currently in the industry.

From winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas – Mansfield Sand has a solution for all.

“The company is local to us, they are reliable and always on the phone if we need them,” continued Paul. “If I need a product as soon as possible then they are always quick to help us out. I normally speak to Sharon Morris (Mansfield Sand Sales Manager) and she will often come out and have a look round. She will also do soil samples as and when we need them, so we know what materials we are putting on.

“Overall, I’m very happy to recommend the company.”

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Redexim return to SAGE 2023!

/in , /by

Redexim return to SAGE 2023!: Redexim UK are delighted to be returning to the Sports and Grounds Expo this July, with a showcase of maintenance equipment that is critical to delivering first-class sports surfaces.

Beside their iconic Verti-Drain 2519 which continues to set the benchmark for professional aeration, stands 8 and 8D will be home to a host of other Redexim innovations including the Turf Tidy and 6m wide Top-Brush.

Redexim return to SAGE 2023!

Redexim return to SAGE 2023!

Proving that multi-purpose doesn’t have to mean a compromise in performance, the Redexim Turf Tidy combines de-thatching, flail cutting or sweeping with collection in a single pass. It is designed with a fully floating head that follows the grounds’ contours ensuring clean and even pick-up of clippings, thatch and other debris making it ideal for a wide range of applications.

Speed and efficiency are also at the heart of the Top-Brush 6000 – comprised of three poly brushes which can be accurately set to a desired working depth for dew clearance, worm cast dispersal or simply enhancing presentation of large areas such as golf fairways or sports pitches. Brushes can be set to rotate or contra-rotate to the direction of travel and, once the job is done, the ‘wings’ can be hydraulically lifted and folded for convenient transportation and storage.

Also on show will be the popular Rink DS800 topdresser and the 1575 Overseeder 3D. The Overseeder 3D is one of a number of disc seeders available from the Redexim range, offering an accurate seed delivery mechanism for precision placement and optimal conditions for germination. The Overseeder 3D is also one of the qualifying models for the current Redexim seed promotion, running in conjunction with Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS). To help facilities combat the rising costs associated with overseeding, anybody who purchases a qualifying seeder through a Redexim Regional Partner until September can receive a redeemable voucher for £500 of seed from OAS’s new Carbon4Grass range.

More information on the promotion or products from across the Redexim range can be found by speaking to the technical team at SAGE, on the 19th and 20th July at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Bernhard announces new Canadian distribution partner

/in , /by

Bernhard announces new Canadian distribution partner: The industry-leader in fine turf management solutions, Bernhard and Company, has continued its development within the Canadian territory via a new partnership with Canadian distributor, OJ Compagnie.

Founded in 1967, OJ Compagnie was originally set-up as a specialised seed company, before moving into the golf sphere. Since then, the family-run business has continued to evolve and now conducts around 65% of its operations in golf, with the remaining focus split between lawn care, sod growers, municipal turf, and other businesses within the turf industry.

Bernhard announces new Canadian distribution partner

Bernhard announces new Canadian distribution partner

The new relationship comes as Bernhard and Company looks to increase its business presence through improved contact with new prospects across Canada, with OJ Compagnie covering the geographical area of Quebec.

Commenting on the new partnership, Phil Jangl at OJ Compagnie, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Bernhard and Company and we believe it’s a relationship that will be a hugely beneficial one for both parties.

“I would say that every golf course in Quebec is our customer, whether on a large scale or on a small scale, and we’re well known in the industry. I think we have a good reputation for our customer service and showing that we really care, which is something that Bernhard and Company has always demonstrated too – making this relationship a perfect fit.”

Gary Ray, Bernhard and Company’s Business Development Manager for North America, added: “We are thrilled to continue to enhance our presence in Canada. OJ Compagnie is a business that is undeniably aligned to our values and principles, and we are excited to see where this partnership leads.”

OJ was originally founded by Otto Jangl in 1967, amassing nearly 50 years of experience in the turf maintenance industry. After Otto Jangl passed away in 2008, the business has been run by his children, Gabrielle Jangl and Phil Jangl.

Bernhard and Company grinding machines are used by more than 65 per cent of the world’s top 100 golf courses to ensure perfect, tournament-ready playing conditions year-round, while the company’s turf management solutions and educational support are utilised at major sporting events around the globe.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Pride for award nominees

/in , /by

Pride for award nominees: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and co-founders and sponsors Toro and Reesink UK have revealed the finalists of their prestigious annual awards, which seek to uncover the UK’s leading student greenkeepers.

Each year the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards enable BIGGA, the UK’s only membership association for golf greenkeepers, to partner with turf maintenance equipment manufacturer Toro and distributor Reesink UK and celebrate the next generation of talented and dedicated greenkeepers.

Pride for award nominees

Pride for award nominees

The first stage of the awards saw candidates undertake an interview in front of a panel of judges comprising representatives of BIGGA and Reesink UK, with 54 nominees being narrowed down to the final 12. The finalists will now vie for the titles of Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year and Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year at Carden Park in Cheshire on 4-6 September.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

  1. Edoardo Fauro, deputy head greenkeeper at Walton Heath Golf Club and student at SRUC Elmwood
  2. Joe Garner, assistant greenkeeper at Wentworth Club and student at Myerscough College
  3. Tyler Holmes, assistant greenkeeper at Ganton Golf Club and student at Askham Bryan College
  4. Craig Jordan, apprentice at Ashley Wood Golf Club and student at Sparsholt College
  5. Shawn McBride, assistant greenkeeper at Hillside and student at Myerscough College
  6. Michael Russell, assistant greenkeeper at Ormskirk and student at Oldham College

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

  1. Daniel Martin, first assistant at Farleigh Golf Club and student at Hadlow College
  2. Ben Murchie, apprentice at Thorndon Park Golf Club and student at Berkshire College of Agriculture (Windsor Forest)
  3. Sam Norman, apprentice at Abbey Hill Golf Club and student at Myerscough College
  4. Caleb Overhill, apprentice at High Post Golf Club and student at Myerscough College
  5. Jake Rose, apprentice at Moortown Golf Club and student at Askham Bryan College
  6. Sam Trott, apprentice at Weymouth Golf Club and student at Bridgwater & Taunton College

Following the announcement, several of the endorsers who nominated students for the awards have spoken about their pride in their students’ achievements.

Nick Lush is sports turf tutor at Myerscough College and nominated Caleb Overhill. He said: “Caleb’s dedication to his college work has been exceptional. The greenkeeping industry is in safe hands when we have young learners like him coming through.”

David Byron is course manager at Thorndon Park Golf Club and nominated Ben Murchie. He said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to bits for Ben. He’s come a long way and I couldn’t be happier for him. This is the cherry on top that proves all the hard work was worth it.”

BIGGA Learning and Development Executive Deb Burnett was on the judging panel for the regional interviews and said: “The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year initiative is in its 34th year and yet the awards continue to grow in stature with each passing instalment. As colleges, golf clubs, BIGGA, the Greenkeepers Training Committee and partners like Reesink Turfcare collaborate to provide better and better learning opportunities for greenkeepers, we find that the standard of student greenkeepers across the UK continues to rise. That gives confidence that the future of the industry is in safe hands and we’re excited to welcome this year’s finalists to Carden Park in September for what stands to be another closely-contested competition. Congratulations to all the finalists!”

David Timms, national accounts manager at Reesink UK and Young award judge, said: “Not only did we have a record number of entries this year but the candidates were really strong, making the finalist selection difficult. It was especially pleasing to see applicants from all over the UK. We have a very strong group coming to the finals, where a challenging but invaluable couple of days awaits them.”

Further reaction from nominators and the finalists themselves can be viewed on the BIGGA website and the BIGGA YouTube channel.

Head to the BIGGA website for details of the incredible prizes on offer for the awards winners, runners-up and those who nominated candidates.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.