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NEWS ARTICLES

Ford Ranger fleet drives Campey customer service

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Ford Ranger fleet drives Campey customer service: As the post-COVID market approaches, Campey Turf Care systems has ensured their Product Specialists stay on the road with a new fleet of Ford Rangers.

Campey has successfully navigated what has been a difficult time for the industry and has strived to keep providing outstanding customer service and support in accordance with changing regulations over the last 18 months.

Ford Ranger fleet drives Campey customer service

Ford Ranger fleet drives Campey customer service

Now, the company is looking forward to restrictions ending, and with the anticipation of higher demand, has ensured Product Specialists will always reach customers with the fleet of eight new vehicles.

Providing on-site support has always been a cornerstone of the Campey experience, from machinery recommendations to installations, and the importance of those visits to the end-users is often highlighted.

Maintaining that contact during the pandemic whenever possible was crucial for grassroots and professional clubs alike as they continued to work. Working tactfully during this time ensured Campey maintained their existing markets while concentrating on a sharp increase of interest in the second-hand market, a sector that Campey, while already established in focused on to meet the constantly changing requirements of customers.

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Warrington GC continues down electric route

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Warrington GC continues down electric route: Warrington Golf Club in Appleton, Warrington, has re-invested in Toro for another five years and has included more electric options in its new fleet from Cheshire Turf Machinery.

Joining the three Greensmaster eFlex 2100 electric pedestrian mowers from the last order are the all-electric Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 greensmower and two Workman GTXE electric utility vehicles.

Warrington GC continues down electric route

Warrington GC continues down electric route

Ben Goodchild, head greenkeeper, has been at the club for the past four and a half years, and he couldn’t be happier about the recent purchase from a brand he knows very well and trusts implicitly.

“We’re trying to go as ecological as possible,” says Ben. “With Toro’s electric machines, we’re cutting down on petrol and diesel usage. We are also looking at getting solar panels in our shed roof to power all the machines.”

Because the machines are so quiet, Ben’s team has a lot more flexibility to work any time of day on any part of the course, allowing them to get a lot more done and stay ahead of golfers.

“I’m super impressed with Toro,” Ben admitted. “I’ve been in the industry for 15 years now, and I first worked with Toro machines at Stockport Golf Club. I think it’s simple and very user-friendly. I’ve used other brands and nothing has ever come close to Toro. The machines and the parts cost slightly more, but the longevity and productivity are second to none and they don’t break down as much so you’re spending less in the long-run.”

Also included in the order are the Multi Pro 5800 sprayer and two Greensmaster 1026 pedestrian mowers, adding to an already impressive fleet of two Reelmaster 3550-D cylinder mowers, two Greensmaster 1600 mowers, a Reelmaster 3100-D, a Triflex 3420 and the ever-popular Procore 648 aerator.

Warrington Golf Club has kept a strong relationship with Cheshire Turf Machinery for over ten years, crediting their reliability and being a full-service dealer as the major factors behind their choice.

“They’re awfully good to us,” Ben says. “If we need something fixed or if we’ve got a small breakdown, they’ll come to us straight away and make sure we’re looked after. With other dealerships, it’s not always a fast turnaround, so Cheshire Turf are very good at that. You just need to go to one place, which makes it simple, fast and efficient. They’re as good as it gets.”

In the meantime, Warrington Golf Club is slowly trying to filter out existing machines from other brands and replacing them with Toro ones. The reasons for their decision touch upon their commitment to electric power and environmentally friendly options, which have also improved both productivity and convenience.

As for which piece of equipment stood out from the list, Ben has become enamoured with the Multi Pro 5800 sonic boom sprayer.

“It’s probably the best piece of equipment I’ve ever used in greenkeeping and I think that it’ll change the game for greenkeepers in the future. It’s very precise and very easy to use. It’s worry-free. I know there won’t be any leaks or any problems, so we’re not wasting money on chemicals or adding too much to the environment. The hose reel is also really handy for tighter areas – it’s a real game-changer!”

2020 was a strange time for the club. Despite the initial break over the pandemic, golfers promptly returned when the doors opened again and the greenkeeping team was more than pleased to finally have players to appreciate their hard work. Citing no significant struggles, Warrington Golf Club currently has 50 members on its waiting list, buzzing to start playing again.

“I like to think there were some silver linings about the whole situation,” Ben concludes. “People started appreciating the outdoors a lot more – how you’re out there, you’re alive and you’re playing golf. Appreciating the small things in life.”

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On the horizon podcasts

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On the horizon podcasts: Greenkeepers, turf managers and agronomists can now get an invaluable insight into the key agronomy challenges they will face on golf courses over the coming months, by following the podcast, On the horizon with Glenn & Henry.

On the horizon with Glenn & Henry features the Technical Managers of both Syngenta, Glenn Kirby, and ICL’s Henry Bechelet. Together, they tackle hot topics typically to be seen in the months ahead.

On the horizon podcasts

On the horizon podcasts

“We’re looking to help greenkeepers think about strategic planning and decision making for golf course turf management, ahead of issues occurring,” reported Glenn.

“As we move towards a greater emphasis on Integrated Turf Management (ITM), it becomes ever more important to manage conditions and prepare turf health well in advance, typically several weeks or months ahead of problems occurring,” he advocated.

The On the horizon format follows an easy-listening style of discussion that explores the experience and renowned practical understanding of both Henry and Glenn, backed up with their turf science and research knowledge.

Henry added: “The podcast gives us the chance to delve far deeper into specific topics. The discussion it triggers helps to bring together the complex interaction of many day-today aspects of turf management, which creates a more holistic approach to ITM.

“Greater awareness of the implications of what you do to today, to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow, is crucial to make ITM work in practice,” advised Henry.

The podcasts’ availability, through media sources including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google, makes the wealth of knowledge readily and freely accessible where and whenever people want to listen – be that on the mower, in the mess room or just catching up in the evening.

Topics for the July episode of On the horizon include:

  • Preventing take-all patch
  • Weather challenges
  • Managing summer stress
  • Anthracnose risks

Previous episodes of On the horizon with Glenn & Henry are all available on all popular podcast platforms.

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Summer is mowing with a Countax

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Summer is mowing with a Countax: There is nothing like having a well-cared-for lawn to enjoy in the height of summer. Whether you’re just sitting out and relaxing in the sunshine or playing games with the kids, a neat lawn makes all the difference.

Even better if you have that very British finish with perfect stripes. The trouble is the lawn takes a lot of punishment through the year and needs a regime of care to maintain its good looks. Part of that comes from nourishing the grass with fertiliser at the right times, de-thatching and removing moss and aerating. The other part is mowing. Cutting the grass regularly and to the right height makes a real difference to its growth. That brings you to the type of mower you use, especially if you have extensive areas of lawn and even a paddock. Then you will probably look at a ride-on mower or garden tractor. If it does more than simply mow, performing a host of other tasks including scarifying and collecting leaves, that is a bonus.

Summer is mowing with a Countax

Summer is mowing with a Countax

One such garden tractor is the Countax, built in Britain for British gardens for over thirty years and developed around the experience and feedback of customers and dealers. What you get with a Countax is a machine that is built to manage all the British climate throws at you and work for you all year round. It may surprise you how versatile the latest model is with the ability to cut and collect grass at virtually any time, even in the wet, and lay down a striped lawn. Cutting to the right height is very precise by raising or lowering the cutter deck between 12mm and 101mm.

While most ride-on lawnmowers rely on the air from their spinning blades to blow the grass through a chute and into a hopper, the Countax cut and collect system uses a clever brush system to sweep even wet cuttings into a collector. There’s no clogging and the action of the sweeper also removes dead grass and debris, helping to reduce thatch for a healthier lawn. In the autumn, the system can be used effectively to sweep up leaves as well. The grass collector is powered by the tractor’s engine and driven by the Power Take-Off (PTO) that is also used to drive a range of accessories and powered attachments, including a broadcast spreader for spreading rock salt on ice in the winter.

The most recent addition to the Countax range of accessories is the PGC+. Driven by the PTO it’s a cassette system that allows you to switch accessories and transform a Countax C or B Series garden tractor into a year-round workhorse. The grass sweeper cassette comes as standard with the PGC+ and there’s an optional scarifier cassette to make removing thatch and moss easier come early spring or autumn. Even better is the fact it scarifies and collects the debris simultaneously. They build Countax garden tractors tough and versatile to work all year, and you can enhance the enjoyment of your garden throughout the summer.

You can find out more by contacting Countax on 01844 278800 or visit www.countax.co.uk/find-a-dealer to find your local dealer.

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JE Rees takes on Kubota equipment

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JE Rees takes on Kubota equipment: Kubota (UK) Ltd continues to strengthen its dealer network by announcing that its machinery dealer JE Rees & Sons is to add the Kubota ground care equipment range to its existing Kubota tractor business, with immediate effect.

Carmarthenshire-based dealer JE Rees & Sons gets an extended product portfolio that includes a full range of compact tractors from 18-60hp, plus commercial and domestic ride-on mowers to sit alongside its existing tractor and RTV business.

JE Rees takes on Kubota equipment

JE Rees takes on Kubota equipment

It is a move that puts the family-run business on a path for further expansion into new markets from its two depots – one at Velindre, west Wales, and the other depot in Llandovery, mid-Wales.

“We’re extremely pleased to be able to support JE Rees & Sons with the opportunity for further growth in these important sectors,” explains Tim Yates, agricultural and ground care sales manager, Kubota (UK). “This expansion will help Kubota to further strengthen its position in these key markets with the ability to provide sales, service and aftercare support across the amenity sector, schools and holiday park operators.”

JE Rees & Sons has been established for over 50 years, and is run by brothers Marc, Dylan, Geraint and Mansel. Having been a Kubota tractor dealer for over four years, the introduction of an expanded machinery range will enable the family-run business to better meet the needs of its customers through highly trained sales staff, workshop technicians and mobile engineers.

“We’re delighted to add the Kubota ground care range to our business – it’s an exciting opportunity for us and our customers,” says dealer principal Marc Rees. “There are some fantastic machines in Kubota’s range, that will also appeal to a whole new customer base in addition to many existing customers.”

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