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

Turkeeper.com ‘Information Technology’ award

/in , /by

Turkeeper.com ‘Information Technology’ award: Kevin Scarce of TurfKeeper.com received the award in the Information Technology category at this year’s SALTEX Innovation awards.

The latest innovative feature, as presented to the GMA judging panel, is the downloadable TurfKeeper ‘Beacon’ App, which serves as a as a true “Push Notification” app. Any tasks that are added, edited or completed on the Turfkeeper online management system sends notifications to the intended recipient in the field. Machinery maintenance alerts warning of impending due maintenance are also sent out via the push notifications. It is now TurfKeeper’s vision to further expand the ‘Beacon’ app with further functionality.”

Turkeeper.com ‘Information Technology’ award

Turkeeper.com ‘Information Technology’ award

TurfKeeper is a complete online management resource which allows its users to plan, execute and diarise daily, weekly monthly work schedules and in return gain extremely insightful real time data reports on labour hours used in specific areas, cost of maintenance, stock usage etc. Stock control, machinery management, detailed NPK tracking and budget control and Health and safety are all included in the one stop shop solution.

The digital jobs white board feature offers a unique way of outputting planned tasks, daily notes, fixtures and direction of cut etc. onto a large screen TV for staff to view. As well as being Cloud based and viewable on all devices, it updates in real time from anywhere.

Kevin Scarce is the Sales Manager for TurfKeeeper.com

www.turfkeeper.com

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.

Staffordshire FA and Campey continue partnership

/in , /by

Staffordshire FA and Campey continue partnership: Following on from a successful working relationship with Campey Turf Care over several years, including the development of a formal partnership in 2020, Staffordshire FA is delighted to extend our partnership with Campey Turf Care for the 2021/22 Season, as the Association’s recommended equipment supplier.

One of the key strands of the Staffordshire FA grass pitch improvement strategy, is to support our clubs and grounds persons to be able to invest in quality equipment to maintain their playing surfaces, and for several years now, Campey Turf Care have developed an excellent reputation and relationships with many clubs across Staffordshire.

Staffordshire FA and Campey continue partnership

Staffordshire FA and Campey continue partnership

As the Football Association and Football Foundation continue to invest in the ongoing improvement of grass pitches, there has never been a better time for grassroots clubs to embrace the support and resources which can enhance their playing surfaces, and subsequently improve the experience of their members.

Gareth Thomas, Partnerships & Communications Officer: “Staffordshire FA have been actively working to improve grass pitches across the county since 2012, and we continue to be very encouraged by the positive impact our programme is having. However, there is still plenty of work to do with over a thousand pitches across the county, and we can only achieve our objectives by working together with various key partners across the industry.”

“Campey Turf Care have played a key part in supporting Staffordshire FA and our member clubs during that period, not only with the supply of quality equipment, but also via valuable education and aftercare with our clubs and volunteers, and support with the educational workshops we deliver.

He continued: “Grassroots football clubs can access support via the Football Foundation ‘Pitch Power’ process, which in turn provides clubs with a detailed report and recommendations from our Regional Pitch Advisor at the Grounds Management Association. Included within each Pitch Power report is a section on recommended equipment, which clubs can then access 75% funding for, via a grant from the Football Foundation.”

“On receipt of their Pitch Power report, clubs across Staffordshire regularly ask us where they can access quality equipment to invest in; having a trusted partner like Campey Turf Care really assists the County FA and our clubs with that process, and we look forward to developing the partnership and supporting more of our clubs in 2021/22 and beyond.”

John Campey, Director at Campey Turf Care, commented: “We are delighted to extend our involvement with Staffordshire FA for the coming season. Working together we have provided a vital link between manufacturer/supplier and those in the field. Combining our innovation and expertise in product design with education and hands-on experience from grassroots clubs is a powerful step in achieving best practise at every level.”

For further information on the Staffordshire FA grass pitch improvement strategy and how your club can benefit from the programme, please contact: support@staffordshirefa.com

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.

The Grove invests in stars of the future

/in , /by

The Grove invests in stars of the future: The Grove, Hertfordshire’s ultimate country escape, today announces two important promotions within its green-keeping team to continue its long-running heritage of developing the golf industry’s stars of the future.

Since opening in 2003 a host of young talent have crafted their skills at the Top 100-ranked venue, under the leadership of Golf Course and Estate Manager, Phillip Chiverton, who has been at the forefront of The Grove’s green-keeping operation for 20 years.

The Grove invests in stars of the future

The Grove invests in stars of the future

The latest green-keepers to rise through the ranks of the young team are 27-year-olds Sam Reid and Callum Herbst.

Sam is The Grove’s new Head Green-keeper, with immediate effect, and Callum is promoted to Deputy Head Green-keeper. Both joined The Grove in 2012, Herbst as an apprentice, and Reid as a casual worker, while studying at Buckinghamshire University.

Reid’s rise to Head Green-keeper status has seen him help prepare the championship course for The British Masters in 2016, achieve an R&A Greenkeeper Scholarship in 2018, and work with the course’s world-renowned architect, Kyle Phillips, during an extensive bunker redesign and rebuild project in 2020.

Herbst’s journey has included being a Toro Student Green-keeper of the Year finalist, along with work experience during the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in the USA, and at the French Open at Le Golf National.

Commenting on the promotions, Phillip Chiverton, said: “In Sam and Callum we have two certain agronomy leaders of tomorrow. The Grove has always invested in young talent and we have a rich history of coaching green-keepers through the early stages of their careers.”

A consistent development programme with scope for continual internal promotion has seen many of The Grove’s young stars go on to secure senior industry roles at other world-renowned golfing destinations, including Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, San Roque Club in Spain and Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE.

“While our day-to-day objectives always remain keeping The Grove in pristine condition all-year-round – something our customers consistently recognise us for – it is also important we offer the next generation of green-keeping stars a platform from which to succeed and prosper. Seeing young talent develop at The Grove and then go on to prosper in all corners of the globe is hugely rewarding.”

The Grove proudly covets its position as a premium open-to-all leisure facility and one of the UK’s Top 100 golf resorts, just 18 miles from central London.

It’s 18-hole parkland golf course, the only venue in the UK to have hosted a World Golf Championship event in 2006, won by Tiger Woods, continues to receive critical acclaim and was recently ranked within Europe’s Top 100 Modern Courses, by Golf World.

The World Golf Awards has also named recognised The Grove as ‘England’s Best Golf Hotel 2021’.

The Grove’s 18th-century Mansion houses 26 rooms, suites and lounges decorated with a 21st-century spin on vintage glamour. There’s also the thoroughly modern West Wing with a further 189 deluxe, superior and family rooms. Many of these rooms have balconies/terraces looking over the immaculate Formal Gardens.

For further information: www.thegrove.co.uk

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.

Sprayer training and safety focus runs high

/in , /by

Sprayer training and safety focus runs high: Operator training and safety figured strongly throughout Saltex 2021 on the Hozelock-Exel stand, which featured Cooper Pegler and Berthoud knapsack and pressure professional sprayers.

In what proved a busy two-days at the NEC, following the show’s absence from the 2020 calendar, grounds professionals were eager to learn latest trends and innovations across the sector.

Sprayer training and safety focus runs high

Sprayer training and safety focus runs high

“Our cutaway sprayer training units are attracting keen interest from industry trainers looking to heighten awareness among those taking PA1 and PA6 certification,” reported Allan Wainwright, Hozelock’s UK National Account Manager.

Leading centres like Harper Adams University have adopted the cutaway sprayers as training aids, while training body LANTRA is soon to follow suit as demand grows for operators to know sprayers’ inner workings so they can improve maintenance regimes.

“Moves towards a sustainable, circular groundscare sector are sending messages to private and public sector contractors to improve sprayer lifetime expectancy by moving from a throwaway culture to a more sustainable one,” Allan added after the show.

Operator comfort and safety is also of growing concern among contractors and landscapers, given that operators often put in full-day shifts carrying considerable weight of liquid on their backs.

Berthoud knapsacks all include ergonomically designed upper body support to spread loading away from the shoulders to the waist, reducing risk of long-term postural and spinal distortion.

“Several landscape contractors asked us how they could adapt their existing shoulder-strap cylinder sprayers to redistribute upper body forces,” Allan said. “Clearly the sector is starting to take on board the importance of ergonomic design to longer-term operator health and safety.”

Key visitors during Saltex included Hozelock-Exel dealer Progreen and wholesalers Spindrift Sprayers, who carry a weight of expertise about the Cooper Pegler and Berthoud brands.

“We’re delighted to support our dealer network at the show by promoting two of the UK’s top professional sprayer brands,” Allan added.

www.cooper-pegler.com

www.berthoud.fr/en

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

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.

SAGE partners with Bio-Circle

/in , /by

SAGE partners with Bio-Circle: Organisers of the Sports and Ground Expo are delighted to announce it has partnered with environmental surface technology specialists, Bio-Circle, and will run a Sustainable Solutions for Ground care summit at next year’s SAGE 2022 event.

Bio-Circle offer environmental solutions for the cleaning and maintenance of ground care equipment, in a sustainable manner, and with a much lower environmental impact compared to traditional cleaning methods. The company uses VOC-free chemicals that are designed to reduce costs for organisations and lower the environmental impact in comparison to high pressure water systems. Bio-Circle’s green credentials are supported via the new Green Code Sustainability Membership and ISO 14001.

SAGE partners with Bio-Circle

SAGE partners with Bio-Circle

SAGE 2022 is set to be the ‘biggest outdoor trade show for the sports and grounds maintenance industry’ and will take place at Three Counties Showground in Malvern on July 6-7 2022, after making its debut this year.

For the first time, it will hold a ‘Sustainable Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit’, which will hold a live panel event, with experts across the industry, more information to be released soon.

This is especially relevant to the sports and grounds care sector, as the English Football League (EFL) announced earlier this month a new league-wide scheme, that will help support all 72 clubs across the country to improve their environmental practices and operations. It will also provide a way for their ground staff to undertake the training to achieve accreditation by a new Green Code Scheme.

League Two Forest Green Rovers are leading by example and have been recognised by the United Nations and FIFA as the world’s greenest football club.

SAGE 2022 event manager Vicky Panniers said: “The deadline for becoming sustainable in the world of sports is now looming and our industry must now start to think of the steps they need to take to become carbon neutral and comply to the new legislation.

“SAGE is, therefore, delighted to be partnering with Bio-Circle, who are leading the way in demonstrating how businesses can lower their impact on the environment and take vital steps towards being sustainable.

“The EFL have 72 members, and, with our partners, we will be delivering live workshops at SAGE2022 to aid these members and anyone else who is looking at how they can become more sustainable for the future.

“We’re now actively supporting our partners within the sports and grounds maintenance world by delivering a resourceful environment where visitors can find out all they need to know directly from the experts at SAGE2022.” More information will be released soon.

The SAGE2022 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT offers 10% off any stand until 31/01/22 but space is going fast.

For more information, contact the team by email: team@sportsandgrounds.co.uk, by phone: +44 (0)1684 580101 or go to www.sportsandgrounds.co.uk today.

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.