Aquatrols Launch FairWays Foundation

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Aquatrols Launch FairWays Foundation: Aquatrols used BTME as the platform to launch an exciting new venture to help promote and support conservation, stewardship and education throughout our industry.

The FairWays Foundation launch event was well received and attended by over 100 delegates from all sectors of the industry across UK and Europe. The audience heard how Aquatrols are putting words into action and will be committing a substantial percentage of their revenue to help fund the new, not-for-profit, FairWays Foundation.

Aquatrols Launch FairWays Foundation

The purpose of the foundation is to fund local and global projects that advance the conservation, stewardship and education of the challenges that we face in our environment. Sarah Vousden, Aquatrols European Business Manager invited the audience to get involved by submitting project funding applications, taking a deeper interest in the foundation itself through becoming a committee member or contributing to funding of the foundation, either directly, or indirectly through the purchase of Aquatrols products.

“I can’t imagine someone wanting to debate the merits of environmental stewardship or conservation. I’ve been in this business for 25 years, I understand how companies spend their resources and I believe Aquatrols can take a leadership position in making a difference in a way that goes beyond a conversation. Everyone that works in this industry doesn’t just like to be outside, they love to be outside; whether its on the course, the farm or on a hike with their family. Shouldn’t we do everything we can to preserve that? Aquatrols is.” – Matt Foster, Aquatrols CEO and founder of the FairWays Foundation.

Bob Taylor, head of Ecology and Environment at STRI contributed to the evening with his very insightful thoughts on where he believes the industry is now in terms of its understanding of Conservation topics, and where we need to be going forwards.  He encouraged everybody in the industry to play their part in securing the future of our courses and congratulated Aquatrols on pushing this Foundation forward.

The final accreditation of the FairWays Foundation, which is expected later this year, will see a true link between business and preserving the natural resources we all depend upon to ensure positive use of the land we occupy.

To follow the progress of the foundation, or to get involved go to www.thefairwaysfoundation.com

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New Headland Products At BTME

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New Headland Products At BTME: BTME 2019 saw the introduction of three new products from Headland Amenity to their range of speciality fertilisers and chemicals for golf and sports turf. The new additions include H-Cote and Protec Plus fertilisers and a triple-active selective herbicide, Columbus.   

H-Cote controlled release fertilisers are a new range of mini-granular fertilisers, designed to fill the gap between traditional outfield and fine turf products. The 150 SGN mini granules are easy to apply and rapidly dissipate into close-mown turf. The product’s 3 to 4 month longevity is due to the inclusion of high levels (70-91%) of controlled release nitrogen from Poly sulphur coated urea, providing release characteristics that are gentle and sustained, with minimal risk of flushing or excessive growth. The 3 formulations, 22-3-8, 15-5-12 and 10-5-14 all feature iron and magnesium for strength and colour and have all performed outstandingly in trials on both golf green surrounds and approaches as well as winter sports pitches.

New Headland Products AT BTME

Protec Plus liquid fertilisers feature slow-release nitrogen from a unique liquid source of
methylene-urea. The particularly low salt index of this material renders the finished products extremely safe to apply even under extremes of hot/dry weather and contributes to a consistent, reliable and long-lasting turf response. The Protec Plus range also features 3 formulations, 28-0-0, 15-0-12 and 16-4-8, each containing good levels of slow-release nitrogen for cost-effective results during the summer.

Headland’s new triple-active selective herbicide Columbus is formulated from Clopyralid, Fluorxypyr and MCPA for control of a broad spectrum of common turf weeds. For use on all managed amenity turf, its unique micro-emulsion formulation provides enhanced herbicidal activity to help ensure good control, with treated areas able to be re-seeded from as little as 8 weeks after application.

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BIGGA Award For Harleyford GC

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BIGGA Award For Harleyford GC: The greenkeeping team at Buckinghamshire’s Harleyford Golf Club has been recognised for its incredible performance in preparing the course for The Matchroom Sport Championship at a prestigious industry awards ceremony.

The greenkeeping team at Harleyford was tonight (22 January) announced as winners of the BIGGA Awards 2019 Championship Performance of the Year sponsored by Rigby Taylor just five years after the club was declared bankrupt.

BIGGA Award For Harleyford GC

Course Manager Craig Earnshaw and members of the Harleyford team accepted the award at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration hosted by Jacobsen, taking place on the opening day of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Harleyford, which is the home course of European Tour star Tyrell Hatton, has a team of six greenkeepers whose office is 1.5 miles from the golf course – meaning a 15-minute drive from the maintenance facility to the first tee.

The team has not only been commended for its incredible work in preparing the course to a standard worthy of hosting a professional tournament, but the staging of the event didn’t go without incident.

When stormy conditions and heavy rain on the eve of the tournament completely washed out the club’s bunkers, the team worked through the night to replace the sand, with even Craig’s fiancée, Tracy Forth, being enlisted to cut rough and blow fairways.

The tireless efforts of the team paid off and Harleyford has been chosen to again host the PGA EuroPro Tour’s Matchroom Sport Championship once again in 2019.

Craig said: “This is mad, I can’t believe it to be honest. When you look at who I was up against, I am really just a little short for words. I didn’t think we would win. The guys on my team were amazing and they’re a real credit to the golf club.”

BIGGA Chief Executive Officer Jim Croxton said: “I’m delighted that the team at Harleyford was nominated for this award as they are a fantastic example of what can be achieved with a talented and determined team led by an exceptional course manager, as Harleyford has in Craig Earnshaw. For the club to bounce back from bankruptcy to the hosting of the PGA EuroPro Tour is quite remarkable and to then overcome the stormy conditions that plagued the build-up to the tournament is exceptional. Congratulations to everyone at the club and good luck for 2019!

“Congratulations also to the Gullane Golf Club and Carolina Golf Club teams, who were both worthy finalists after hosting exceptional tournaments during 2018. All are a credit to BIGGA and the greenkeeping industry as a whole.”

BTME 2019 runs until Thursday 24 January and features more than 159 exhibitors from all aspects of the turf management industry. The exhibition is a celebration of the golf greenkeeping industry in the UK and each year more than 5,000 greenkeepers, trade members, club managers and other representatives come together to network and share the latest education and innovation opportunities.

Visit http://btme.org.uk/ for more information.

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Standing Ovation For Chipstead’s Jack

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Standing Ovation For Chipstead’s Jack: A greenkeeper at Chipstead Golf Club in Surrey received a standing ovation at the BIGGA Awards, held tonight (22 January) on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, in recognition of his selfless efforts in helping the homeless.

Jack Percival, 24, was among the prize winners at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, where he was awarded the Outstanding Contribution of the Year sponsored by Jacobsen.

Standing Ovation For Chipstead’s Jack

Chipstead deputy course manager Jack hosted an event in Croydon on 23 December that provided food and warmth for the homeless during Christmas.

The 24-year-old, who was himself homeless for six months when he was 17, put out an appeal on social media for donations, with a huge number from within the golf industry and the wider world responding.

The work was a huge success, but is just one example of Jack’s incredible efforts to support the homeless and those less fortunate. Each Christmas he had previously made up sandwiches and soup and traveled via bus to Croydon to give out food to the homeless.

He also volunteers weekly with Croydon Nightwatch, which is where a member of staff encouraged him to seek support for the aid he provides at Christmas. Since then, Jack received vanloads of sleeping bags, hygiene essentials and warm clothes, in addition to donations of food, raising national awareness of his campaign.

Jack said: “This is unbelievable, I didn’t think I could cry in front of hundreds of people, it was just brilliant.

I didn’t do this for an award, I was homeless myself when I was 17 and I did six months on the street. I turned my life around, met my partner, and this is just the start for me. We did a big feed at Christmas and there was one guy who cried because he got a haircut. I saw a guy dance because he got new shoes and you can’t put a price on that.”

BIGGA Chief Executive Officer Jim Croxton said: “When I heard Jack’s story I was absolutely blown away. Having heard what he went through during those six months when he lived on the street and then seeing how he has worked tirelessly in the years since to not only turn his life around but also provide opportunities for others less fortunate, is quite inspirational.

“I’m delighted that we have been able to recognise Jack’s achievements in this small way. He is an incredible young man and I’m proud to call him a member of the association.”

“Congratulations also to Amanda Dorans and Carl Flavell, whose incredible stories made them extremely worthy finalists for this award.”

BTME 2019 runs until Thursday 24 January and features more than 159 exhibitors from all aspects of the turf management industry. The exhibition is a celebration of the golf greenkeeping industry in the UK and each year more than 5,000 greenkeepers, trade members, club managers and other representatives come together to network and share the latest education and innovation opportunities.

Visit http://btme.org.uk/ for more information.

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Golf Environment Awards 2019

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Golf Environment Awards 2019: The winners of the 2019 Golf Environment Awards (GEAs) have been announced at The Crown, Harrogate, in a ceremony hosted by STRI Group and The R&A.

Environmental Golf Course of the Year 2019 – Aldeburgh Golf Club

Creating what many thought to be impossible, an almost perfect blend of course and ecology to the point where it is hard to tell where one begins and another stops. All without sacrificing the playability of the course.

Golf Environment Awards 2019

Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year 2019 – Phil Stain

Phil and his team’s knowledge of ecological practice to maintain a course that is in keeping with the surrounding countryside and create great community engagement.

Golf Environment Awards 2019

Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year 2019 – Wylihof Golf Club

An innovative new design of ecological enhancement shows that we still have a lot to learn. Conservation is a young science and there is still plenty of room for new ideas.

Golf Environment Awards 2019

Operation Pollinator 2019 – Corhampton GC

The club has shown that you have to be brave when it comes to habitat management, but the results of their efforts are well worth it creating big new expanses of habitat for pollinators.

STRI ecology consultant, Rowan Rumball, said: “A huge congratulations to the winners and finalists of this year’s awards. We have been amazed by the work that golf clubs and greenkeepers are doing for the ecological and environmental wellbeing of their courses and within the local community.

“Environmental best practice is an important part of all golf clubs’ working remit and through the introduction of next year’s Home Nations awards we hope more clubs will be encouraged to enter the 2020 GEAs.”

Golf Environment Awards 2019

A Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to Gordon Moir, retired Director of Greenkeeping at St Andrews Links Trust.

STRI head of ecology, Bob Taylor, said: “It was a real pleasure to be able to honour Gordon Moir at the Golf Environment Awards 2019 with a Lifetime Achievement Award, giving recognition to his dedication to ecology and environmental sustainability, and all that he has achieved during his illustrious career spanning over 27 years at the St Andrews Links Trust”.

Golf Environment Awards 2019

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