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Johnsons deliver a premier wicket

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Johnsons deliver a premier wicket: Delivering the strongest coverage, density and recovery Head Groundsman Andy Ellett has seen in his 13 seasons at the club, J Nitro Premier Wicket is taking the quality of Exeter’s County Ground to new levels.

Having switched to the Johnsons Sports Seed mixture two seasons ago, Andy says the improvements in surface quality have delivered a wicket that now resembles a bowling green!

Johnsons deliver a premier wicket

Johnsons deliver a premier wicket

Cricket has been played at the County Ground for over 130 years, with the club investing in a brand-new pavilion, opened in 2016. “The developments in other areas of the Ground made me review elements of our maintenance programme and it was our local distributor who recommended the J Premier Wicket seed mix. From our very first pass, the improvements in sward quality were evident and when Ian Barnett from DLF Seeds came in to look at the results, he suggested the next step would be to give the ProNitro® coated option a try.”

The ProNitro® coating on J Premier Wicket ensures the germinating and developing seedling receives the full benefit of the additional nutrients. Combining both fast acting and slow release sources of nitrogen, ProNitro® encourages faster, more uniform establishment and rapid, strong growth. “We applied the J Nitro Premier Wicket at the end of the 2019 season, and then used it for repairs on the bowling and batting ends. In the past it would have taken us two months to get these high-wear areas back but with the coated seed, we saw germination in a week, and we achieved full coverage in under a month.”

“Sward density and appearance have all improved, as has root growth meaning the wicket is now looking, playing and wearing much better.” After closing the gates during the pandemic, the club is gradually re-opening and Andy looks forward to hosting play once again over the coming weeks and months. He concludes, “I can confidently say that as it stands, the wicket has never been better.”

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‘Gamechanger’ Ventrac at Wildernesse

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‘Gamechanger’ Ventrac at Wildernesse: The Wildernesse Golf Club has purchased a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and selection of attachments to assist in the maintenance of the magnificent wooded 18-hole course, located in the village of Seal near Sevenoaks in Kent.

Mark Todd is the Course Manager and heads a team of eight including a full-time mechanic. He began his career in 1988 at nearby Lingfield Park Golf Club, where he spent 10 years learning his trade before joining The Club Company at Nizels Golf and Country Club as Deputy Course Manager. Within six months he was promoted to Course Manager and in 2007 took up his current position at The Wildernesse.

'Gamechanger' Ventrac at Wildernesse

‘Gamechanger’ Ventrac at Wildernesse

“It might be a cliché, but this incongruous looking machine is a gamechanger,” he said. “We purchased the tractor unit and three attachments; the Contour deck, Tough Cut deck and Turbine Blower. We are a heavily wooded course and we spend too many hours using backpack blowers removing leaves and other debris, not just in the autumn, but all year round. We hand cut all our greens and the team take a backpack blower with them every time, to clear the surface before mowing. This is so time-intensive, but the Turbine blower is brilliant; we also use it to remove the debris after scarifying tees and even blow cores from the greens after aeration.

“The Tough Cut deck is great for maintaining the woodland margins. We used to use a compact tractor and flail to mow these areas, but it was a heavy and cumbersome combination. The out-front position of the Tough Cut deck combined with the low profile and agility of the tractor unit, means we can get in and under the trees. Without doubt, it has lifted the presentation of the course.

“Changing between the different attachments is quick and easy. There’s no three-point linkage to worry about or adjustments to make, you simply drive out of the current implement and drive into the next one. The mounting system is ingenious; it’s so quick that it encourages you to use it to its full potential. We recently loaned the stump grinder attachment and I was extremely sceptical that a belt-driven implement on a sub-25 hp tractor would be robust enough to do the job. However, it was outstanding and seemed defy the laws of mechanics; it will certainly be our next purchase.

“Initially I thought buying the Ventrac would be just about maintaining the banks and removing leaves, but we’re finding more and more uses for it. When we were looking to purchase the equipment, I had great support from the club. I made what I hoped was a sound business case and also invited the Greens Chairman to the demonstration. Everyone was impressed with its slope climbing ability and its potential labour-saving attributes, which have since become a reality. You know you’re on a winner, when there’s a lot of interest and positive comments from the members!

“I’ve been very fortunate during my time here as the club has been very supportive. They have invested in a new irrigation system, new machinery and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic have been superb. We had numerous meetings and discussions on how we would approach and handle the situation and I must say, that my greenkeeping team have gone above and beyond expectations.

“We split into two teams; one headed by Lee Austin, my deputy, and the other by myself. We worked 10-hour days, one on, one off and it worked very well. We’ve followed the rules on social distancing, we’ve done a lot more cleaning and sanitising and the lads have been really flexible.

“The course was in very good condition when we reopened. We normally have a two-tee start, but that’s now down to a single tee and two-ball groups only, although this will be relaxed shortly. We’ve been booked solid and have a starter on the tee all day. Golfers must arrive 10 minutes prior to the allocated tee time and change in the car park. The only facility that’s open is the toilets.

“There was a lot of talk about golf being allowed back earlier than it was, but I think it would have been seen as elitist if this happened. Now that it is back it might help encourage more participants, as it is one of few sports that can adapt in these strange times. Only time will tell.”

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Toro’s internet of turf

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Toro’s internet of turf: Leading the way with technological innovation in the golf and groundscare industry, Toro’s Internet of Turf represents the future of turfcare.

Toro’s Internet of Turf brings together five of Toro’s key technological products and services which when connected online help reduce operating costs, enhance safety and produce the best quality playing surfaces possible.

Toro's internet of turf

Toro’s internet of turf

Combining Lynx central control system, Turf Guard wireless soil management system, GeoLink precision spray system, myTurf Pro asset management system and NSN technical support, the Internet of Turf brings together for the first time accurate information on all aspects of turfcare management from one access point.

Robert Jackson, water division sales manager from Reesink Turfcare, sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf and sports fields equipment and irrigation products, says: “Technology is helping turfcare businesses to better manage resources and helping workers to complete tasks faster. Using technology and connecting certain elements of turfcare management online can help turfcare professionals maintain the perfect playing conditions every day by providing actionable data to help optimise turf management decisions.”

Irrigation application with the Lynx central control system allows access in real time from any mobile device to accurate irrigation information. The touch of a button is all it takes to change your irrigation plan, and with additional extras such as the weather station, you can adapt in response to changes in the weather, from wherever you are.

Turf and soil monitoring are made easy with Toro’s Turf Guard wireless soil monitoring system. Accurately monitoring soil condition including moisture, temperature and salinity levels, turf managers can access the essential soil information they need, when they need it, to maintain optimum soil and plant health.

Accurate application of fertilisers and pesticides is another key factor for soil health. Whether to deliver essential nutrients or to protect turf from diseases, ensuring uniform coverage and the correct volume of application is vital, and Toro’s GeoLink precision spray system helps you to achieve this by utilising pinpoint GPS technology to help guide operators.

The Internet of Turf enables turf managers to bring together irrigation and machinery to gain a comprehensive overview of all the elements of their role. And when it comes to the core elements of turfcare management, having cutting-edge technology will help improve profitability and playability, something that is certainly true when it comes to the management of turfcare machinery.

Toro’s web-based asset management system, myTurf Pro gives turf managers the capability to monitor fleet health, order parts and schedule service activities, helping to improve staff efficiency, lengthen the life of equipment and reduce overall maintenance costs.

And wrapping up the five technologies is NSN technical support. Toro’s web-based customer portal provides a knowledge-sharing database, online chat and remote central connectivity and monitoring, meaning support is there whenever you need it.

Robert concludes: “By delivering connected information on one platform, Toro’s Internet of Turf brings easy access to all aspects of turfcare. Showing how it all comes together and enabling decisions to be made that maximise the performance of the crew, the equipment and the turf. Toro’s Internet of Turf gets rid of the need to manually wade through data and instead brings turf management into the future, giving you more time to get the tough jobs done.”

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Charterhouse kit at Glasgow Academy

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Charterhouse kit at Glasgow Academy: With a fleet of natural and synthetic machinery from Charterhouse Turf Machinery, Head Groundsman Robert Cheape is well equipped to maintain the four separate sites that make up The Glasgow Academy.

He has recently taken delivery of his third Verti-Drain®, a 7521, for the regular aeration of the eight grass rugby pitches, while an X-treme Clean is ensuring the playability and safety of their four artificial surfaces.

Charterhouse kit at Glasgow Academy

Charterhouse kit at Glasgow Academy

With facilities for cricket, ladies and men’s hockey and tennis, it is the rugby section that is best known – with Glasgow Academicals RFC celebrating their 150th anniversary in the 2016-17 season. “Our rugby pitches see a lot of play, from both external clubs and the 1400 pupils of the academy” explains Robert, who has been at the school for 36 years. “Weather permitting, we carry out aeration once a month, and for over 20 years that’s been with a combination of a Charterhouse slitter and Verti-Drain®.” Upgrading their machine roughly every seven years, Robert’s latest model – the 7521 – was delivered by local dealer Hamilton Brothers.

“It was the 2.1m working width and the range of tine options that really appealed with the 7521. We can go out with solid tines working at depths of up to 16” through the winter months alongside our slitter, then incorporate.some hollow coring between March and September. This gives us ultimate flexibility to react to ground conditions and adjust penetration and heave accordingly.” By keeping on top of routine maintenance, Robert has also been impressed with the reliability of the Verti-Drain®. “They’re well-built and easy to operate and maintain – with all of our Verti-Drain’s® we’ve never had any issues with breakdowns.”

On the club’s two full-size astro hockey pitches, together with their two ¾ size MUGA surfaces, it’s a trusty combination of brushes from the Charterhouse synthetic collection used alongside the X-treme Clean 1200. “We brush once a week and then follow up with a monthly pass of the X-treme Clean.” Using horizontally rotating brushes, the X-treme Clean lifts the pile and agitates the infill – removing dirt, debris and compaction. “As with all of our Charterhouse kit, it’s efficient, reliable and does exactly what you want it to. We’ve used it for years and will be happy to do so for many more to come.”

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Makita launches new 40V saws

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Makita launches new 40V saws: Makita UK has added the HS004G Circular Saw and JR001G Reciprocating Saw to its new XGT 40V Max range of high-performance cordless tools. Both machines have been engineered to make high-demand work quicker, easier and safer. 

The 190mm HS004G Circular Saw features Makita’s brushless motor technology for improved efficiency and longer battery life. It has twin LED job lights, is compatible with the Makita guide rail system without an adapter and is capable of 48° bevel cuts.

Makita launches new 40V saws

Makita launches new 40V saws

The HS004G also has a soft start function and a no-load speed of 6,000rpm but the inclusion of Makita’s Automatic Torque Drive (ADT) Technology means that the cutting speed is automatically adjusted according to the load conditions. On light duty work it runs at the higher speeds while for heavy duty applications it automatically switches to a higher torque mode. It also has an indicator lamp to warn of overload conditions.

For improved operator safety, the HS004G is compatible with Makita’s Bluetooth dust extractors through the Auto-start Wireless System (AWS). When the tool is switched on, the dust extractor runs automatically, making dust management easy and effective.

Also added to the XGT range, is the JR001G Brushless Reciprocating Saw. It offers outstanding performance with a cutting speed of up to 3000 strokes per minute, two electronic speed settings and a variable speed trigger. When compared to Makita’s LXT Twin 18V (36V) machines, the new 40V JR001G cuts metal 10% faster and wood 35% faster, allowing improved productivity and even greater build quality within the tool and the batteries.

The new reciprocating saw is lightweight at just 4.2kg, has an ergonomically designed handle for comfortable operation and a vertical crank mechanism for smooth cutting. It also features a toolless shoe adjustment and simple blade ejection lever allowing quick changes without the risk from residual heat in the blade.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK commented: “Every tool in our XGT range has been engineered to deliver the highest performance with all the benefits of cordless power. With automatic speed control and wireless connection to dust extraction units, the new circular saw ensures both effective and safe work, even on the most demanding tasks. The newly added reciprocating saw makes cutting metal, wood or pipe fast and efficient with less strain on the operator.”

To find out more about these new additions and the rest of the Makita XGT range visit www.makitauk.com.

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