Stephen Bernhard to receive Outstanding Contribution Award

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Stephen Bernhard to receive Outstanding Contribution Award: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), has announced the finalists of the BIGGA Awards 2025, while also revealing that a lifelong supporter of greenkeeping is set to receive the association’s Outstanding Contribution Award with Kress.

The BIGGA Awards will be presented at the BIGGA Celebration with Kress, which takes place on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Celebration (BTME). Held in Harrogate each January, BTME is Europe’s largest gathering of golf greenkeepers and provides world class education and networking opportunities for BIGGA members and those working in the sports turf and golf industries.

Stephen Bernhard to receive Outstanding Contribution Award

Stephen Bernhard to receive Outstanding Contribution Award

At the BIGGA Celebration with Kress, Bernhard and Company founder Stephen Bernhard will be presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award. With an unwavering commitment to education and professional development, Stephen has provided countless opportunities for greenkeepers to achieve new heights, not least through his support of the BIGGA Delegation to the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show and the establishment of the Bernhard Academy in 2019.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “Stephen Bernhard has been an inspirational character in our industry for decades and via his generous support – in particular of the BIGGA Delegation to the United States – he has made positive contributions to countless careers in greenkeeping. His enthusiasm for greenkeeping and the wider sports turf and horticultural sectors have been undimmed with the passing of time.

“He has always sought to innovate and challenge were appropriate and time spent with Stephen is always thought-provoking. I’m thrilled that we are able to recognise his outstanding commitment to our industry in this way.”

Stephen worked in his father Jeffrey Bernhard’s turf nursery and landscaping business from a young age. He formed Bernhard and Company in the 1970s and the business became a leading name in spin grinding in the 1980s with its renowned Anglemaster and Express Dual machines. Throughout its history Bernhard and Company has built a reputation for providing a range of innovative sharpening tools alongside educational support for greenkeepers and groundspeople and in 2008 the company was awarded the Queen’s Award for Industry.

Also to be presented at the BIGGA Celebration with Kress are the Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year with Bernhard and Company and the Greenkeeping Project of the Year with Price Turfcare awards. In both cases, the innovative thinking and creativity of BIGGA members are celebrated, with nominations being received throughout 2024. BIGGA is delighted to be able to reveal the finalists of these awards below.

BIGGA Awards finalists 2025:

Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year with Bernhard and Company

  • Burnham & Berrow Golf Club for the hosting of Final Qualifying for The 152nd Open in July.
  • Morlais Castle Golf Club for hosting the Men’s Welsh Team Championship in August.
  • Woburn Golf Club for hosting The G4D Open in May.

Greenkeeping Project of the Year with Price Turfcare

  • Cowdray Golf Club
  • Long Ashton Golf Club
  • Parkstone Golf Club

Further information about the finalists can be found in the January edition of Greenkeeper International and on the BIGGA website.

The BIGGA Celebration with Kress will be hosted by Sky Sports’s Sarah Stirk and is a free, informal event that will be held in the Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall on Tuesday 21 January 2025. All attendees to BTME are welcome to attend and more information can be found on the BIGGA website.

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Polaris winner receives his General 1000

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Polaris winner receives his General 1000: Polaris is pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 Great British Farm Off Competition, Nick Hopkins. After months of hard work and dedication of sharing his daily farming life online, Nick has been awarded a Polaris General 1000 for an entire year.

At the start of 2024, Polaris launched an exciting new competition: the Polaris Great British Farm Off. The initiative aimed to celebrate the resilience and hard work of British farmers, while highlighting how Polaris vehicles can support farming life.

Polaris winner receives his General 1000

Polaris winner receives his General 1000

Farmers were invited to share their day-to-day activities from January to July, opening the doors to show the hard work and commitment involved in running a farm. Those who shared engaging and consistent content were considered for the Great British Farm Off title and the chance to win a Polaris Off Road Vehicle for an entire year. From lambing season to harvest, the entries highlighted the dedication of the British farming community.

One standout participant was Nick Hopkins, a Wales-based farmer/horse breeder whose engaging content kept everyone entertained. Blending personality and humour, Nick’s posts gave followers an authentic and light-hearted look at life on the farm, making him a clear favourite.

Speaking about his decision to enter the competition, Nick shared: “When we saw the competition, we thought we’d give this a go. There’s so much going on, and of course, running from January through to June, different things are happening seasonally on the farm. We thought it’d just be a bit of a laugh to do it. The kids got involved in taking photos, and we kind of staged quite a lot of stuff as we never really saw ourselves as content creators and certainly never thought we’d win it.”

To collect his prize, Nick visited long-time dealer and friend Jake Else at Derbyshire Quads, where he was presented with a Polaris General 1000.

Reflecting on Nick’s win, Jake said: “If there was ever a winner of a competition, he’s [Nick] one of the most worthy. We’ve known Nick for years, probably at least 15 years. He bought a spark plug from us initially, and he said the service he got from just buying that spark plug meant that if he was ever going to buy any machines in the future, he’d come back to us – and thankfully, he did. (…) Now he’s won the competition where he’s got the opportunity to have a General for a year, so I think he’s going to love that. Nick’s a great guy. It’s been an honour to support him with his products and machines over the years and a very worthy winner. Congratulations Nick. Well done.”

After a day of EASI training, Nick headed home to his smallholding in Capel Iwan, eager to put his new General 1000 to work. Over the next year, the General will complement the two Polaris RANGER 570s already supporting his American Quarter Horse breeding programme.

With its 30.5cm ground clearance, the General will help Nick tackle daily tasks with ease, from early morning livestock checks to managing chores across the farm’s varied terrain. Whether it’s moving hay, topping up water in the fields with the water bowser, or using its 272kg bed box capacity, the General will prove invaluable in keeping things running smoothly. Nick also plans to put the General’s impressive 680kg towing capacity to work with a grass-cutting mower and fertiliser spreader as needed.

As the year progresses, Nick will continue to keep his followers updated on how the General is making a real difference on the farm. From tackling day-to-day tasks to navigating Wales’ green lanes, it’s clear the General is set to become an essential part of Nick’s daily life.

Keep an eye on Polaris UK’s social media to see how Nick puts the General 1000 to work on his farm.

The Polaris Great British Farm Off will be returning in 2025, offering another lucky winner the chance to receive a Polaris vehicle of their choice for an entire year. More information will be available soon –  keep and eye on the Polaris UK social media channels for updates.

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Finalists for 2025 US Open technician volunteer opportunity

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Finalists for 2025 US Open technician volunteer opportunity: The Bernhard Academy is pleased to reveal the three finalists for its sponsorship programme, offering one lucky equipment technician the chance to travel to Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, USA to volunteer as part of the 125th US Open support team.

The finalists are:

James Breeze – Huddersfield Golf Club

Paul Spencer – Royal Birkdale Golf Club

Paul Colebatch – The Worcestershire Golf Club

Finalists for 2025 US Open technician volunteer opportunity

Finalists for 2025 US Open technician volunteer opportunity

Each has demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication to their chosen career as equipment technicians. To select the eventual winner, the Bernhard Academy team will visit each of the finalists at their clubs in early January to conduct the final interview phase.

The winner will be announced on Monday, 20th January 2025, as part of the Bernhard Academy’s Reception evening at BTME, BIGGA’s annual turf management exhibition in Harrogate. This marks the conclusion of a rigorous selection process to identify the best candidate for this unique career-development opportunity.

Sami Strutt, Education Director for the Bernhard Academy, said: “We’re proud to announce James, Paul, and Paul as our finalists. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for equipment technicians based in the UK, and highlights the work the Academy is doing to promote the crucial role of technicians, and offer opportunities for them to further develop their skills.”

The winner will join Oakmont Country Club’s volunteer team for the third major of the year in the men’s game, the US Open. There, they will work with industry professionals and the Oakmont team to prepare the course for the world’s best players to compete. They will also attend a preparatory training workshop at a Bernhard Academy venue before their visit.

In partnership with the Turf Equipment Technicians Organisation (T.E.T.O), this sponsorship underscores the Bernhard Academy’s dedication to recognising and advancing the role of equipment technicians, fostering skill development, and driving innovation in the sports turf industry.

For further information about the competition, please visit: https://bernhardacademy.co.uk/tournamentvolunteer/

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New Origin launches at BTME

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New Origin launches at BTME: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS), a leader in premium turf care solutions, will launch two groundbreaking fertiliser ranges at BTME 2025: their revolutionary Xtend CRF (Controlled Release Fertiliser) range and their precision-focused Microlite range.

These launches result from OAS’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge innovations for turf professionals.

New Origin launches at BTME

New Origin launches at BTME

Visitors to BTME 2025 will be able to explore OAS’s products in Hall 2, Stand 230, and discover TurfKeeper, OAS’s innovative digital platform, at Stand 200.

Xtend CRF: Featuring innovative technology

The Xtend CRF range is the first fertiliser on the market to benefit from two key fertiliser technologies, which, when combined, provide a true controlled release of nutrients.

The Xtend CRF range will feature four products. All will contain Origin’s ProTect controlled release technology, which uses temperature-primed nutrient release blended with inhibited nitrogen to slow the release. When formulated with freely available nitrogen, this combination provides a quick turf response followed by a consistent release of nutrients over three months.

Microlite: Precision Fertiliser for Optimal Performance

Launching alongside Xtend CRF is Microlite, a premium micro-granular fertiliser range containing multiple nitrogen sources for a consistent release of nutrients without any significant growth flushes. Micro-granule for maximum performance, Microlite can be applied at low application rates with superior coverage over other products in the market. The granules disperse quickly into the sward and break down rapidly to become available for plant uptake. The inclusion of methylene urea in some grades improves the longevity and slower availability of nitrogen.

TurfKeeper – A Digital Solution for Turf Management

OAS will also feature the TurfKeeper digital platform at stand 200, showcasing its capabilities to improve operational efficiency in turf management. TurfKeeper helps turf professionals manage tasks such as job scheduling, resource management, and performance tracking, providing valuable insights for optimised surface performance.

OAS Speakers at BTME 2025

OAS experts will lead several educational classes, sharing insights on cutting-edge research and practical turf management techniques. Don’t miss these key sessions:

  • Collecting & Using Data to Optimise Surface Performance
    January 19, 2025. | 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Queens Suite 6
    Geoff Fenn and Kelly Clack, will focus on collecting and utilising site-specific data to optimise turf performance.
  • Building a Fertiliser Plan for Beginners
    January 20, 2025. | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | Crowne Plaza Ripley
    Geoff Fenn and Kelly Clack will advise on creating effective fertiliser plans.
  • The Latest UK Research – Data and New Technologies
    January 21, 2025. | 10:00 am – 10:45 am | Seminar Theatre, Hall 3
    Presented by Geoff Fenn and Kelly Clack, this session will explore research findings from the OAS Turf Science & Technology Centre, focusing on data, disease management, and sustainable turf practices.
  • Simple Repairs to Your Irrigation System
    January 22, 2025. |1:15 pm – 4:30 pm | Queens Suite 6
    Led by Peter Robin, this practical session will cover essential skills for maintaining and repairing irrigation systems.

For more information, visit www.originamenity.com

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Foley showcases the benefits of precision grinding

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Foley showcases the benefits of precision grinding: Foley Company’s UK and Ireland distributor, ProSport UK Ltd, will be on stand 550 Hall 5 at BTME 2025, demonstrating the unrivalled benefits of relief grinding and the new floor level Foley 642 Quick Spin Reel Grinder.

A selection of Foley automated Accu-Pro cylinder grinders and Accu-Pro bedknife grinders will be on the stand for visitors to see and ask any questions they may have on this important aspect of workshop maintenance techniques.

Foley showcases the benefits of precision grinding

Foley showcases the benefits of precision grinding

The unrivalled automated features on the Accu-Pro 633 provide a step-by-step tutorial for new technicians and a quicker setup and spin grind feature for the more experienced operators. You tell the machine what you’re working on, and it automatically spin or relief grinds to completion. Pre-programmed spin speeds, relief torque, and in-feeds are only a few features in the ACCU-Touch 3 system that ensure efficiency and guarantee a quality grind with every use.

Joining the other machines will be Foley’s new floor level 642 Quick Spin Reel Grinder. The new grinder is designed to accommodate the widest of mower cylinders and is a simple roll-on roll-off solution to grinding, with the machine sitting at floor level. The roll-on roll-off solution removes the need for heavy lifting facilities, revolutionizing how equipment managers view touch-up spin grinding.

It offers a fast, easy-operated option for providing a quick touch-up spin between regular relief grinding schedules, and is a solution for sharpening the extra wide, heavy mowers used on sports fields/pitches. The Foley 642 Quick-Spin features simple to use controls, counter balanced spin drive, patented front and rear clamping system for pedestrian mowers, and power rear positioning levers for cylinders. It will accept up to 42-inch reel width and operates on 240v/15a power.

ProSport UK Ltd Managing Director Ian Robson will run demonstrations throughout both days of GroundsFest and be available to discuss any questions or requirements.

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