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TriSmart technology takes Fairhaven to another level

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TriSmart technology takes Fairhaven to another level: The Course Manager at Fairhaven Golf Club claims that the advanced technology behind ICL’s H2Pro TriSmart wetting agent, has worked wonders on the dry, sand dominated course.

For nineteen years Joe Barnes has been progressing through the greenkeeping industry. In 2021, he saw an opportunity to become a Course Manager, but it had to match his ambitions.

TriSmart technology takes Fairhaven to another level

TriSmart technology takes Fairhaven to another level

“I wanted to be a Course Manager, but I wanted to maintain a level of greenkeeping that I had been used to and I felt that I would be able to achieve that at Fairhaven Golf Club,” he said. “The club is well placed within the rankings, has a thriving membership, and can provide me with the tools required to do the job.

“My aim is to take Fairhaven to the next level.”

Joe was offered the job at the start of 2021 but had to work a three-month notice period before starting at Fairhaven. In starting work at such a crucial period in the greenkeeping calendar, Joe felt it was important to hit the ground running.

“In my first year I wanted products that I could trust completely,” he said. “I felt that ICL were leading the way in terms of products, innovation, and research. I have always found that no other brand gives the end user as much information about their products. That is what really drew me towards them.

“When I first started, I sent Phil Collinson (North West Key Account Manager for ICL), my ideas behind what I wanted to achieve, what I wanted to use and where I wanted to use them. Phil then started working behind the scenes and sent me back a full planner including products he felt would deliver what I set out.”

Fairhaven Golf Course has all the characteristics of a traditional links course and being a sand dominated course can make moisture management particularly challenging. Therefore, one such product which Joe reported excellent results from using was H2Pro TriSmart which is a high-quality wetter and water conservation agent. It is formulated with three water management surfactant technologies to provide great water penetration, even water spread through the rootzone and to improve the water holding capacity of sandy rootzones.

Joe had previous experience of using the product as he explained.

“At my last course, we were using a wetting agent from another brand, and I felt that the technology was slightly showing its age. We had a particularly bad season where it didn’t perform – so we switched to ICL’s H2Pro TriSmart. I saw first-hand the improvements it made and so it was a no-brainer for me to use it here.”

Joe and his team apply TriSmart monthly on the greens and tees through the growing season but must work with Mother Nature when it comes to applying it on the fairways.

“It is a very strong product in terms of helping me maintain consistent moisture levels across the surfaces and we don’t see greens showing localised dry spot,” he said. “I also like the varying application rates that we can use. Generally, we start with a low application rate of 10 L/ha, but if I feel like I need to put a bit more on then I’ve got no qualms in going up to 20 litres.

“On fairways we rely on rainfall,” he continued. “We are not blessed with fairway irrigation, so we must wait on a weather window that allows us to apply TriSmart when the rain is coming.

“The technology behind the product is excellent – it really is a premium wetting agent, but you have come to expect that from ICL.

“Everyone I speak to says the same. As well as Phil you have the likes of Henry Bechelet and Dr Andy Owen, who are driving forward some great research. Providing all this data for everyone to see just gives you even more confidence in the products.”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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New sustainable project at Brondby IF

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New sustainable project at Brondby IF: Brondby IF’s stadium is the first in the world with a 100% sustainable and economical solution in the form of 100 m2 sun mirrors that add the missing sunlight to the grass.

Brondby IF and Second Sun have in recent years collaborated to establish this solution, and now several clubs in Denmark, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom and Australia are also joining the fray to become part of this green future.

New sustainable project at Brondby IF

New sustainable project at Brondby IF

The team, who is responsible for the grass on the field on a daily basis and won the “best pitch in Denmark 2021 and 2022”, is also pleased with the new solution. Chris Hague, head groundsman at Brondby IF: “There are parts of the southern half of the course that need more light than the natural daylight it receives today. Nothing is better for growing grass than sunlight. Second Sun contributes sunlight to the half of the field that is missing, and is part of the solution that solves the problem.”

Ole Palmå, CEO of Brondby IF, says: “Innovation and new technology are part of Brondby IF both on and off the field. With the installation of Second Sun’s solar reflector system at our stadium, we can beat several flies with one swipe: Support a skilled technological entrepreneurial company, act sustainably and also through the system achieve a saving on the artificial lighting on the pitch.”

Great international focus

Second Sun is an entrepreneurial company in Copenhagen with CEO Nicolai Moustgaard at the helm, and he is happy with the collaboration with Brondby IF.

He says: “We are very pleased with the collaboration with Brondby IF, which has welcomed our ideas and innovative solutions. We have thoroughly tested the system and the results show that the reflection of the sunlight from our mirrors actually benefits the growth of the grass. We have now expanded with 100 m2 solar reflectors set up on the north stand. The set-up here has resonated in the football world, and we have received several inquiries from other stadiums in Europe and as far away as Australia.”

Media video of the system

https://vimeo.com/605470378 (Danish National Broadcasting feature)

For further information, contact CEO Nicolai Moustgaard on +45 5360 3638 nm@secondsun.dk or press adviser, Susanne Louw on +45 3150 9031 sl@secondsun.dk

Visit our website: https://www.secondsun.dk/

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Turfgrass Growers Association demo day

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Turfgrass Growers Association demo day: The Turfgrass Growers Association are pleased to announce that the Turfgrass Summer Show is returning for 2022.

Following on from the success of the 2020 event, we are pleased to now announce the date for this year’s event Thursday 28th July. Turffit have very kindly offered to host the 2022 event. We are looking forward to welcoming all the members and the turfgrass industry to Kinross, Scotland.

Turfgrass Growers Association demo day

Turfgrass Growers Association demo day

This event attracts all those involved in turfgrass production, from growers to the ancillary industry and will host an excellent exhibition and demonstration to provide a great interactive opportunity for those who attend. The last TGA summer show was held in 2018 and after 4 years we are really pleased to bring the event back. This year’s event will showcase our hosts fine turfgrass where machinery, seed and crop protection companies can find a platform upon which to showcase and promote their latest technologies.

To compliment this year’s event, there is also a multitude of activities including some Scottish Highland games favourites. Test your strength by Tossing the Caber and Throwing the Hammer. Test your accuracy with the unique Glengoyne Malt Challenge (Haggis throwing!) or try your hand at Scottish Piping, there is an activity for everyone to enjoy! In addition to these Traditional Scottish activities, you can also take aim with Environmentally friendly Clay Shooting, Football Darts or try Archery with guidance from an experience instructor. There will also be a fantastic Falconry experience to enjoy!

We are also pleased to announce that in partnership with Trimax we will be hosting a celebratory meal to close the 2022 show at the prestigious Cannonball Restaurant, Edinburgh. The historic setting in the heart of the Old Town, and with fabulous views of Edinburgh Castle, will be an ideal place to celebrate our Turfgrass event with the growers and affiliated industries from across the UK and the wider world.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW

The event will also be registered for both BASIS and NRoSO points which will be available on the day. It’s an event not to be missed!

If you are interested in exhibiting, please contact admin@britishgrowers.org or visit TGA Summer Show 2022 – The Turfgrass Growers Association website.

On behalf of the organising committee, we look forward to welcoming you to the 2022 Turfgrass Growers Summer Show on Thursday 28th July 2022.

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Toro opens visitor centre at Spellbrook Factory

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Toro opens visitor centre at Spellbrook Factory: Toro U.K. Limited have opened a visitor centre at their Spellbrook factory in Hertfordshire.  After significant investment, Toro have converted an old agricultural building based by their test fields into a multi-functional visitor centre, which includes a kitchen, toilets, Wi-Fi and full audio visual facilities.

Capable of holding small intimate meetings to large events, the building will give the opportunity for Toro to welcome more groups to the site, including customers and Dealers from both the UK and Europe.

Toro opens visitor centre at Spellbrook Factory

Toro opens visitor centre at Spellbrook Factory

In honor of the founder of Hayter mowers, Toro UK have named the building the “Douglas Hayter Visitor Centre” and have added various nods to the sites history in the form of a history wall, display cabinets and even some heritage and special edition machines.

Toro UK combined the launch of the visitor centre with a celebration for staff of the Queens Platinum Jubilee.  Having held a Royal Warrant for supplying Her majesty the Queen since the 60s, it was especially important for the Toro UK team to celebrate this occasion.

“This visitor centre provides Toro with a really useful space to host and interact with our Dealers and customers.  From training to new product development, this visitor centre will be vital to growing our business in the UK” said Craig Hoare, Sales & Marketing Manager – Toro U.K. Limited. “There was only ever one choice, when it came to naming the building and I am so pleased we have been able to honour Doug Hayter, the man who started it all and to be able to bring some of our history into the building.”

The first official Customer event to be held in the new Visitor Centre will be the Toro UK Dealer days in September, where Dealers will get to tour the factory and see the new ranges for the 2023 season.  If you are interested in attending, please contact sales.uk@toro.com

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John Deere fleet at St George’s Park

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John Deere fleet at St George’s Park: For the grounds team at St George’s Park, the home of England football, maintaining a world-class venue is a 365-days-a-year, 24-hours-a-day passion.

Located six miles from Burton in Staffordshire, the park is home to 14 pitches and sprawls across 330 acres with 150 acres actively maintained by a 15-strong team.

John Deere fleet at St George’s Park

John Deere fleet at St George’s Park

 

Andy Gray, Head of Grounds and Estates, is in charge while 10 take care of the pitches and four work on the wider estate.

“The sheer size of the estate is the biggest challenge,” says Andy, who joined The FA from Southampton FC.

A key part of his job is to foresee issues that will crop up in the future and putting a strategic plan in place to meet these potential challenges.

“I’m also responsible for making sure my team has all the tools they require to do their job effectively,” he adds.

To help them in their quest to continue delivering world-class excellence, the centre has invested in a brand new fleet of John Deere mowers, gators and tractors to maintain the England teams’ pitches and the wider estate.

The pitches

“It’s a high-pressure environment because you’re constantly trying to meet everyone’s expectations and when you have a small team on both sides it is hard,” says Dan Oliver, Assistant Head of Grounds.

Adaptability and responding to the UK’s unpredictable weather patterns is key. “The weather is the biggest thing,” adds Dan. “There are peaks and troughs, depending on how wet or warm it has been.”

With major Premier League and European teams plus sides from further afield making the journey to train at St George’s, Dan and the team feel the pressure to deliver a world-class experience.

“We constantly compare ourselves to other venues. A lot of the players will be coming from excellent facilities, so we do our best to mirror what they’re used to, and hopefully deliver more. This should be a step up.”

The estate

Management of the wider estate covers a range of tasks from woodland management to protecting and enhancing biodiversity.

Matt’s estates team is made up of him and three other people. This equates to an approximate ratio of one person per 25 acres to actively maintain daily.

The team’s existing equipment lease deal expired in January 2020, leading to a re-evaluation of what was required.

“That fleet was the same one that was set up in 2011,” Matt says.

“The ride-on mowing equipment we had didn’t suit our estate’s undulating terrain. The nature of the site means that you’re never sure what you’re going to come across and because of the soil makeup the ground is often wet.”

After an extensive demonstration process of the machines available to them, the team decided to go with John Deere because of the extra support the brand can provide.

“One thing that really impressed me from the start was the support John Deere gave us during the transition when the old fleet was going out and the new kit was still being built,” Matt says. “As it was transferred in we still had access to whatever equipment we needed.

“For us, one of the most important things was what would happen if something broke down. Our arrangement with John Deere means we can get answers quickly and get equipment back up and running.”

The team’s new John Deere fleet comprises three compact tractors in the form of a 2036R and two 4066R models, two TE and three HPX Gators, three 2750 E-Cut triplex mowers, two X950R riding mowers, one 7400A TerrainCut and a 8000A mower, one Progator and a HD200 sprayer.

All the equipment was supplied by John Deere dealer Farol through Area Sales Managers Jacob Shellis and Tom Spencer. With their support, full training was given to the workforce on how to set up the machines to operate with maximum accuracy and performance.

The fleet is fully connected and all machines are remotely monitored by Farol under Deere’s PowerGard protection plan. A maintenance agreement means work is carried out at scheduled times according to the service manual. This ensures performance is maximised and reduces the risk of breakdowns. The deal is in place for five years.

Nathan Page, one of the operators at St George’s, said: “A big difference is the 2036R and 4066R tractors. They are all-weather, comfortable and capable of pulling everything we need them to.”

His colleague Michael Bristow added: “The main thing for me was the training when the new kit arrived. We have been shown the right way to operate it all. The ride quality is also really good, which is important when you’re working on these machines all day.”

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