Kubota (UK) announce two strategic appointments

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Kubota (UK) announce two strategic appointments: Kubota (UK) are delighted to announce two strategic appointments – bolstering knowledge and strength both internally and across the dealer network.

John Davis has taken up the position of agricultural and groundcare dealer manager for the south and south west of England, while Matt Wilson joins the marketing team as groundcare product and key account manager for the UK and Ireland.

Kubota (UK) announce two strategic appointments

Kubota (UK) announce two strategic appointments

Passionate about farming and machinery, John has worked in the industry since leaving school, where he enrolled in an apprenticeship scheme with former dealer Tincknells, some 30 years ago. He joins Kubota following eight years with a specialist manufacturer and brings with him considerable experience gained during his most recent role working with self-propelled crop spraying equipment.

“I’m looking forward to being challenged with continual dealer development and brand-building, to introduce Kubota to a much wider audience in the agricultural and groundcare sectors,” said John. “Kubota is a company that is growing and we’re seeing increased interest from the industry for Kubota tractors, loaders, telehandlers and groundcare machinery. It’s a great time to be involved with such a well-respected, global manufacturer.”

Meanwhile, Matt Wilson joins the Kubota (UK) marketing team with more than 20 years of industry knowledge having gained dealership, distribution and manufacturing experience with a variety of businesses involved in the amenity, golf and turf sectors. Matt’s desire for market and product information will be instrumental in his role to further develop the groundcare portfolio, together with working alongside Kubota’s European groundcare product management team.

Matt explains, “I have always wanted to work for a top-tier manufacturer, and joining Kubota is certainly a highlight of my career to-date. Ethically, Kubota’s core disciplines, family values and its honourable nature are values that are close to my heart.”

“There is strong demand for Kubota’s groundcare products, in particular the products from the recent acquisition of Gianni Ferrari.” He adds, “Who wouldn’t want to work for such a well-respected brand, with equipment that sets the industry standard for build quality and reliability?!”

Commenting on the recent appointments, Kubota’s agricultural and groundcare sales manager Tim Yates said: “John’s knowledge provides us with a great opportunity to continue supporting dealers and build on the growth already achieved in the agricultural and groundcare markets. It’s great to have both him and Matt on the team; whose in-depth industry knowledge gives us a strong foundation on which to continue supporting the groundcare sector with market-leading products.”

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Toro’s most popular machines now available

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Toro’s most popular machines now available: Reesink Turfcare, UK distributor of Toro fine turf machinery, is letting customers know that the vast majority – 95 percent – of its popular Toro models are now in stock and available for immediate delivery, with that figure set to reach 100 percent very soon.

Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager, Reesink Turfcare, says: “We want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding through this post-pandemic period of lingering supply issues and the extended lead times the industry has endured. We appreciate and very much share the frustration this may have caused and value their loyalty to the brand which saw them prepared to wait.

Toro’s most popular machines now available

Toro’s most popular machines now available

“The good news is the wait is over and lead times on machines are tumbling. While extended lead times remain on a very small number of products, through careful planning we are in a position where we can mitigate the effect of these lead times on our customers. We have been working tirelessly through our extensive back orders and are now in a position where we have very nearly caught up. This has left us in the fortunate position of having 95 percent of our most popular machines back in stock and ready for dispatch.”

Examples of some of the most popular machines now available include but are not limited to the Toro Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 hybrid and all-electric eTriflex 3370 greensmowers, the lightweight Reelmaster 3575-D fairway mower and the ever-popular Reelmaster 3100-D Sidewinder. There are also entire ranges of equipment now in stock including all pedestrian greensmowers, all Groundsmaster models – from the 3500 all the way up to the Groundsmaster 4700, and the full Toro Workman range.

Jon concludes: “We are just waiting on a few remaining lines to have a complete line up meaning the wait is well and truly over. With the extended lead times there has been a huge amount of business booked for 2025, which again we are extremely thankful for. With this in mind and to continue with the good news, we are able to offer a range of finance options to suit the customers budget and buying cycle, giving customers the tools to either bring their deliveries forward or take advantage of the available stock to get the machines and fleet deals they want quickly.”

More machines mean that demo fleets across the country are expanding and there is now a wide range of machines available for customers to access and test onsite prior to purchase. Customers can contact their local Reesink representative or dealer to find out more, arrange an onsite demonstrations and place orders.

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Committee for Golf Club Salaries publishes 2025 salary recommendations

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Committee for Golf Club Salaries publishes 2025 salary recommendations: Following extensive research, the Committee for Golf Club Salaries (CGCS) has recommended a 5% increase in the salaries of golf club staff for 2025.

The full CGCS statement can be found on the BIGGA website.

Committee for Golf Club Salaries publishes 2025 salary recommendations

Committee for Golf Club Salaries publishes 2025 salary recommendations

The increases will be added to the salary calculators provided on the CGCS website and take into account the National Living Wage increase, which is set at 5.8% in 2025. The recommendations also take into account the prevailing economic environment and the importance of golf facility staff to the overall industry.

The CGCS salary calculators also consider geographic regions, facility size, core responsibilities, club rating, qualifications and experience, ensuring recommendations can be tailored to individual members of staff.

Research is also taking place to enable the creation of calculators for addition golf facility roles including assistant manager and equipment manager or chief mechanic.

The CGCS is comprised of representatives of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and the Golf Club Managers’ Association (GCMA) alongside independent golf club experts.

As in previous years, the CGCS states that these recommendations are intended to ensure golf facility staff are suitably paid and valued by their employer in today’s turbulent economic environment. The CGCS has no power to compel golf facilities to adopt these recommendations, but with the securing of new and competent staff becoming ever more difficult, the committee asks venues to seriously consider adopting the recommendations.

Alongside salaries, golf clubs are also urged to ensure that suitable attention and resource is given towards the growing concern that is mental health and wellbeing, as well as providing adequate opportunities for career pathway support, training and development. If any employer or golf club committee member would like to learn more about what BIGGA or the GCMA can provide in these areas, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Contact details are on the various associations’ websites.

Head to the CGCS website for more information and to explore the salary calculators, guidelines and principles of good pay.

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Campey Turf Care Systems wins award

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Campey Turf Care Systems wins award: Campey Turf Care Systems’ impact on the world stage, has been recognised by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) with the 2024 Global Star Award.

The Macclesfield-based company received the accolade during the GMCC Excellence Awards at Manchester’s Albert Hall, with its outstanding achievements in innovation and global business growth making it a standout candidate.

Campey Turf Care Systems wins award

Campey Turf Care Systems wins award

As sport has grown globally, so has the demand for high-quality surfaces. Campey has developed with an ethos of solving the challenges turf professionals face in the UK, and by applying that worldwide, they have built a reputation as a leader of innovation.

The GMCC Excellence Awards showcase and celebrate business achievements and resilience, highlighting businesses, leaders, and teams that have demonstrated success within their industries and communities in Greater Manchester.

Speaking about the recognition, Managing Director Julia Campey said, “Winning the Global Star Award is a testament to our entire team’s hard work and dedication. We are proud to represent the turf industry on the global stage, and this award highlights our commitment to continually delivering exceptional service and driving innovation in the turf care industry.”

Campey’s place as the winner was secured due to its history, progress, and innovation in the global turf market. Campey Turf Care Systems, established in 1986 by Richard Campey, has provided sports turf professionals with industry-defining machinery for 38 years.

Richard Campey detected an untapped market need. He realised that a specialist supplier of high-quality, purpose-built equipment could enable turf managers to meet the in-creased demands placed on modern sports turf surfaces.

From FIFA World Cups to Wimbledon, and Salford City FC to Manchester United, there is rarely a tournament or event played on turf that hasn’t been prepared using a Campey machine.

What initially started out as a business offering sports turf maintenance work within the North West of the United Kingdom has now grown to be one of the UK’s leading independent distributors. Machinery is available from over 70 dealers throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA. Campey continues to strengthen its international presence by establishing Campey Australia and new dealer networks around the world.

Irrespective of the region, Campey Turf Care Systems is not just about providing industry-leading machinery. The company is equally invested in education. It has conducted numerous European roadshows and demo days worldwide, offering country-specific training to esteemed professionals and volunteers, thereby consistently elevating the standard of play.

Campey’s innovative machinery, combined with education and customer service, is what has led to the exponential and continued growth of a family business from Macclesfield, which is now the number one supplier and manufacturer of specialised sports turf equipment in the world.

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Johnsons delivers tried and trusted performance

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Johnsons delivers tried and trusted performance: A programme of Johnsons J Fairway has been praised by the team at Woodbridge Golf Club, after delivering tried and trusted performance for more than a decade.

Such is the consistency and quality of results from the 100% fescue blend on the fairways, Course Manager Paul Lawrence is now employing another 100% fescue mix from the Johnsons Sports Seed range on the clubs 27 greens as they seek to improve drought and disease tolerance.

Johnsons delivers tried and trusted performance

Johnsons delivers tried and trusted performance

Woodbridge Golf Club boasts a 9 and 18-hole course, well renowned for its exciting play and stunning heathland surroundings. When Paul joined the club in November 2014, Johnsons J Fairway was already extensively used across the fairways and, ten years later, remains the only mixture that suits their conditions. “It would be remiss not to keep an eye on new mixtures, but we continue to find that nothing performs like J Fairway year-in, year-out” says Paul.

He continues, “It gives us fantastic, hard-wearing surfaces and has demonstrated outstanding tolerance to drought over the years.” Paul emphasises that this was particularly evident during the summers of 2018 and, more recently, 2022. “Despite the extreme drought, as soon as the rain returned the fairways came back in a flash which is testament to its recovery, and the deep rooting nature of fine fescues. It can also be sown late into the year and it’ll establish and germinate as soon as conditions are right.”

Johnsons J Fairway blends five top-ranking fescue cultivars to deliver sustainable fairways with improved sward quality and reduced management cost. Ideal for heathland and parkland courses, J Fairway has high visual merit and shoot density, along with industry-leading tolerance to drought and turf diseases including Fusarium.

“Because of how well this mix performs, we are now in a position of not having to conduct much in the way of overseeding – more just monitoring and spot-treating certain ‘bottleneck’ areas.”

In attempts to replicate the resilient results on the greens, Paul has recently embarked on an overseeding programme with Johnsons J Fescue on the back of advice of DLF’s Craig Spooner and local distributor Aitkens. “We’d like to achieve a bent/fescue composition which, moving forwards, will put us in a better position to withstand environmental pressures and lower our inputs of water and fertiliser. We’re overseeding twice a year and are already seeing fantastic results!”

For more information on all the high-performance mixtures available across the Johnsons golf and sports turf seed range, visit www.johnsonssportsseed.co.uk

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