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Battery power from Toro for The Open

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Battery power from Toro for The Open: The Open returns to Royal Liverpool Golf Club for the 13th time in July and helping prepare the course for the world’s golfing greats is Toro turfcare machinery.

While most of the machinery fleet at the famous links at Hoylake on the west coast of England is Toro, leading the charge on the greens, tees and surrounds are the Toro eFlex 1021 lithium-ion battery-powered pedestrian greensmowers and Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 all-electric ride-on greensmowers.

Battery power from Toro for The Open

Battery power from Toro for The Open

A dedicated team of greenkeepers under the watchful eye of links manager James Bledge are making the final preparations to the course and Toro has been there every step of the way. In fact, the last time the club hosted the world’s oldest and most popular golf event in 2013, it had just taken delivery of six eFlex 1021 greensmowers and while plenty has changed since then, what’s stayed the same is the machine still entrusted to look after the greens and tees.

James explains: “We have a new par 3 which will be the biggest change since The Open was last hosted here – it is a very short but challenging hole with stunning views of the estuary and Wales. What hasn’t changed is the club’s commitment to sustainable course management in that we’re always looking for the best carbon-neutral options. And when you find a pedestrian greensmower that provides this level of precision and quality, powered by a battery, you don’t look anywhere else.

“The weather will dictate the greens speed for the week and the work we have done in the last year will ensure we have more control over this. For us that’s six teams of two out doing single and double cuts with the Toro eFlex 1021 pedestrian mowers.”

Joining the pedestrian mowers on the frontline is Toro’s Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 all-electric ride-on greensmower. While this was the machine of choice for the greens at St Andrews at last year’s championship, at Royal Liverpool Golf Club it’s being used on the tees and surrounds.

James continues: “The eTriFlex 3370 is more than capable of achieving the standard required on the greens, as we saw so masterfully demonstrated at St Andrews last year. It is quite literally one of the best machines made and it’s a great greens choice, but with the acute run-offs on our course, hand cutting is the best bet.”

Despite the reliable machinery choices, that’s a lot of trust to put in the greens team to ensure a consistency of cut across the board for the eyes of the world surely. James agrees: “The greenkeepers are the heroes here. They’re the ones out there putting in the hours and miles; they are an extremely talented team.”

When James accepted the role of links manager in December 2021 the first thing on his to-do list was to prepare for The 151st Open and what could have been a baptism of fire for many was a dream role for James.

“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this,” he says. “Creating the most diverse volunteer team handpicked from all the best places, bringing together someone from every championship venue, having mentors from across the world to turn to and having the best brands and businesses to work with has been rewarding and will be an incredible opportunity for everyone involved. It’s great to see everyone come together with the common goal to put on the best event possible.”

Machinery dealer Cheshire Turf Machinery who has worked with Royal Liverpool for over 20 years and Toro’s UK distributor Reesink Turfcare will be providing extensive championship support and a fleet of Toro machines for the duration of the historic event.

Steve Halley, managing director of Cheshire Turf Machinery, says: “It really has been striking how enthusiastic and excited James and his team are about staging The Open. We are delighted to support their efforts to make the event as successful as possible.”

Jon Cole, divisional business manager at Reesink Turfcare, comments: “It’s a privilege to be a part of The 151st Open and supporting the team at Royal Liverpool throughout the Championship again. We have worked with at least 30 of the 40 host venues of The Open that have taken place in our 40 years as Toro distributor and to be involved is always an honour.”

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idverde deliver with Euroflor from OAS

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idverde deliver with Euroflor from OAS: The installation of a wildflower meadow in a recreational and memorial ground has been cited as the ‘highlight of the year’ in a report summarising the work undertaken for Stratford-on-Avon District Council by contractors idverde in 2022.

Euroflor Rainbow Annuals supplied by Origin Amenity Solution (OAS) was selected to deliver a burst of vibrant colour and the results didn’t disappoint – with the success of the project overwhelming the team with positive feedback and securing further wildflower areas around the community.

idverde deliver with Euroflor from OAS

idverde deliver with Euroflor from OAS

idverde is Europe’s leading provider of grounds maintenance services and landscape creation projects. idverde’s clients in the UK include more than 200 public bodies and 55 housing associations, The Royal Parks in London, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Glasgow Airport and more than 100 blue-chip private sector businesses such as Vivo and Veolia.

“The council approached me to see how we could increase visual impact and biodiversity to an area of recreational land, making the space more welcoming for people and wildlife to enjoy” explains idverde Contracts Manager Alex Colbourne. “While we had worked with OAS before, we hadn’t had seed from them, so I spoke to our Area Sales Manager Andria Backhaus who took some soil samples and provided us with some excellent advice. With her experience, we prepared the area ready to sow the Rainbow mix at the end of April.”

Assisting Andria, Alex and the team of operatives with the sowing of the Euroflor was Howard Wood who, with over 40 years of experience in installing meadow lands across Europe, was well placed to provide a plan to achieve maximum results. “We followed their advice and started to see growth in approximately three weeks, and in six weeks we were in full bloom.” Alex continues, “I think it’s fair to say the results exceeded everybody’s expectations. We had an array of flowering species, bright and bold colours and the comments we received from the public was amazing.”

Euroflor Rainbow Annuals from OAS is a popular choice for those looking for rapid establishment and a long flowering period. The vibrant display changes throughout the year thanks to 14 different species – with early season Eschscholtzias and Iberis giving way to mid-season Poppies, Cornflowers and Flax, before Marigolds and Cosmos dominate towards the end of the year.

“Once the season was complete, we cut the growth back and then prepared the ground ready for the new seed, which went down a little later this year due to the cooler conditions.” Alex continues, “Together with introducing more wildflower areas this year, we have also had the opportunity to team up with a couple of local schools which has provided a great opportunity to teach children about the importance of habitat and ecology and get them involved with sowing the seeds. It’s been a real success all round and fingers are crossed for similar results this year and into the future.”

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SCAG listen to their dealers

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SCAG listen to their dealers: STM Co now have the SFC 30 and its smaller brother the SFC 21 added to the impressive SCAG mower range. The SCAG Finish Mower is a credit to their principle of listening to the dealers.

Interest had been regularly expressed in having a small pedestrian mower to finish off after a large area cut with their other trusted SCAG machines – or just to have a regular-use walk-behind that they knew they could trust to do the job, withstand heavy use and last several seasons. The dealers knew this was the sort of product SCAG would make well by maintaining the quality of design and build that is synonymous with the name.

SCAG listen to their dealers

SCAG listen to their dealers

First off was the SFC 30; a tough machine to sit between a 36” cut mower and a commercial 14”. SCAG made a superb job of the unit, supplying it with several standard features: easy height adjustment, good range of handle angle, internally routed operating cables for snag protection and three cutting options of bag, side discharge or mulch. Swivelling front casters are an additional feature on the best-selling “S” version, as they greatly enhance manoueverability.

Engine options are 5 and 7hp Kohler Command units for the range.

Sales for the 30 have been good, and SCAG have decided to extend the range and introduce the smaller cut pressed SFC 21. No casters available on this model, but the three cut options of bag, mulch or side discharge remain, plus the two engine types.

The machines are available through the STM dealership network. To find your nearest dealer ring 01789 488450, email info@st-mach.com or look at our website www.st-mach.com

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Green-tech receives independent endorsement

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Green-tech receives independent endorsement: For the 12th consecutive year Green-tech has been awarded ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 status.

ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are two of ISO’s most well-known quality standards, implemented by over a million organisations throughout the world.

Every year Green-tech is assessed in order to retain its accreditation status. After initial certification companies have a surveillance audit in years 1 and 2. Year 3 is a more rigorous and in-depth recertification audit. This audit is similar in detail and intensity to the pre-certification audit.

This year was a recertification audit for Green-tech. This audit looks more deeply into the holistic and global implications of the implementation strategy. It reviews the whole of Green-tech’s processes and systems from beginning to end, as well as investigating their continued commitment to continual improvement.

Green-tech’s Estimating & Compliance Manager Alice Birch comments, “This year the ISO Assessor reviewed our warehousing and distribution facilities and reviewed the Green-tech processes from start to finish. Our soil production area was chosen, and every aspect of the process was checked. Our reporting processes were put under the microscope, along with HR and compliance.  Our environmental and quality manuals and objectives were reviewed to ensure these were measurable and finally how we track risk management in the business was audited. It was a rigorous process but as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards are deeply embedded within our organisation and we have robust and structured systems in place we were able to easily demonstrate consistency and continuous improvement in our processes and service.”

ISO 9001 is a Quality Management System (QMS) which gives organisations a systematic approach for meeting customer objectives and providing consistent quality. ISO 14001 is an Environmental Management System (EMS) for measuring and improving environmental impact. It requires Green-tech to demonstrate that they have a sufficient environmental policy plan in place to manage their environmental impact.

The British Assessment Bureau is a leading Certification Body, that carries out the independent assessment to confirm and document that Green-tech runs its business in accordance with these rigorous standards.

Green-tech’s Business Development Director Mark Wood comments,

“We put a lot of effort into continuously maintaining and improving our quality and environmental impact standards. The audit is detailed and robust, so I’m delighted to have independent endorsement of Green-tech’s compliance.”

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Carnoustie Golf Links Plants 1000th Tree

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Carnoustie Golf Links Plants 1000th Tree: On Thursday 25th May 2023, Pat Sawers (Lord Lieutenant of Angus), Brian Boyd, Provost of Angus and Councillor David Cheape planted the 1000th sapling into the ground on The Carnoustie Buddon Course. In attendance was Michael Wells (Chief Executive of Carnoustie Golf Links), Craig Boath (Head of Sustainability at Carnoustie Golf Links), Simon Inger and Steven Reid (Seagreen) and local children from Carlogie and Burnside schools.

In 2018 Carnoustie Golf Links began working with Seagreen, a joint venture project between SSE Renewables and TotalEnergies, on a development that will provide Scotland, and the wider UK, with critical green infrastructure and will become Scotland’s largest and the world’s deepest offshore wind farm, helping to meet Scotland’s net-zero targets and tackle climate change. Part of this project required Carnoustie to fell or transplant 200 trees from the route along the new cables. In agreement with Angus Council, Carnoustie Golf Links were required to re-plant one tree for every tree that was felled. The Links then went one step further, not only committing to replacing all trees felled, but to plant a total of 1000 new trees across the courses.

Carnoustie Golf Links Plants 1000th Tree

Carnoustie Golf Links Plants 1000th Tree

Craig Boath, Head of Sustainability at Carnoustie Golf Links said: “We are dedicated to contributing to the natural environment of our courses. With an abundance of wildlife calling the Links ‘home’, we want to make sure that we both protect what we already have and enhance the eco-system for the future. Although there were a few delays on the way, the Seagreen Project felt a very natural opportunity to combine with and deliver our own planting project.”

The new trees at the Links will offset approx. 1,610 tonnes of carbon over their lifetime of roughly 40 years, helping the Links on their way to achieving their ambition of becoming a Carbon Net-Zero organisation.

Michael Wells, Chief Executive of Carnoustie Golf Links said: “Carnoustie Golf Links is dedicated to doing the right thing for our local community and the natural habitats that surround us. We took a big step this year in appointing the brand-new role of Head of Sustainability, a position focused on ensuring that we are doing all that we can to protect and enhance our environment. This tree planting project is one that the whole team have got behind, with many of our staff helping in the planting efforts and leaving a small but significant legacy on the Links.”

Seagreen’s Onshore Project Manager, Steven Reid said: “We have formed a good partnership with Carnoustie Golf Links as we have tried to minimise the impact and disturbance felt during the construction works of Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, Seagreen. We’re pleased to have helped contribute to the number of trees being planted across the course at Carnoustie and to the overall ecology of the Golf Links as part of our project works.”

Carnoustie once again aims to lead the way, this time in the sustainability aspect of the business. The new Head of Sustainability role is a first for Carnoustie, and a rare position within the sport of golf.

Pat Sawers, Lord Lieutenant of Angus and past Chairman of CGLMC Ltd said: “As a current Season Ticket Holder at Carnoustie Golf Links, it’s wonderful to know that the team at the Links are taking the sustainability and ecology of the golf courses seriously. If we want our courses to flourish well into the future, we know that they need to be looked after, and should work harmoniously within the eco-system. It is a great honour to be involved in planting the 1000th tree in this admirable project.”

Brian Boyd, Provost of Angus said “I am extremely honoured to have the opportunity to plant the 1000th tree here at Carnoustie. The Links are very well placed to make a significant impact on the local natural environment and it’s excellent to see the great work that’s going on down here. I know that this is not the end of the tireless environmental work that is happening across the organisation and I look forward to seeing more projects like this coming to fruition in the future.”

Councillor David Cheape said: I am very proud to see a project like this taking place in my home town. As Convenor of Carnoustie Golf Links Community Benefits Programme, I often get to see much of the good work that goes on here at Carnoustie, and this is another project that I’m delighted to be part of. The golf courses at Carnoustie are excellent natural habitats and I hope that these new trees will benefit not only the wildlife on the courses, but also enhance the vistas for all of the local people who walk the courses.

In a bid to contribute further to the area of sustainability within the golf industry, Carnoustie are currently working with Bob Taylor and Sophie Olejnik, Ecological Consultants from The R&A with the purpose of delivering an exciting new 5-year project which has the aim of demonstrating the biodiversity value of golf courses. The R&A Sustainable Championship Agronomy Team have selected a series of exemplar Championship venues for this project to be undertaken, one of which is Carnoustie Golf Links. Although the study was to be contained only over The Carnoustie Championship Course, the scope has been widened to cover the whole estate. Carnoustie hopes to help by providing further evidence to illustrate that golf is good for the maintenance of natural habitats and biodiversity. The project will consist of a series of surveys including wildlife audits and habitat condition assessments. The information gathered will be used to inform the management of habitats to further enhance the golf course, and to develop a monitoring plan to be delivered over four years focussing on different groups of population across mammals, plants, invertebrates, herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) and birds. It is hoped that the project will be able to truly quantify the ecological value of golf.

Carnoustie Golf Links is not new to contributing to the nature on the courses, over the years, the Links have carried out a wealth of environmental projects with some highlights including Operation Pollinator – where wildflower seeds were sown throughout the courses (on areas out with play) and kidney vetch planting – to help encourage more Small Blue Butterflies to the area. Both projects were carried out with help from the local primary schools. Sea Pea planting has also taken place in conjunction with Dundee Botanic Gardens. Furthermore, managed turf areas have been cut down to increase habitat corridors and the acquisition of an Eco Green Composter has helped recycle turf, soil, and sand to create a great growing medium for future works on the Links.

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