COMPO puts life back into the greens

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COMPO puts life back into the greens: Two products from COMPO EXPERT have helped to put some much-needed life back into the greens at Kilsyth Golf Club, according to Head Greenkeeper Brian Hill.

Brian has been at Kilsyth Golf Club in central Scotland for just over 30 years. Throughout that time, he has always worked with Agrovista Amenity, the exclusive national distributor of COMPO EXPERT’S turf products in the UK.

COMPO puts life back into the greens

COMPO puts life back into the greens

Brian’s first point of contact at Agrovista Amenity is Ramsay MacGregor and it was Ramsay who recommended the COMPO EXPERT range of products to him.

“I trust Ramsay 100% because I know he is going to give me something that works, and it is not going to bust the bank,” said Brian. “I’m going to get a great product every time from him and that is why I took on-board his suggestion about COMPO EXPERT.”

COMPO EXPERT believes in sustainable, integrated turf management by focusing on modern fertilisation concepts, consistent regeneration of growth and optimal support of the plant’s own physiological processes. All of which promote vitalisation, stress tolerance and root development while providing optimum turf quality.

The innovative product range includes specialty mineral and stabilized fertilisers, slow and controlled release fertilisers, water soluble and liquid fertilisers as well as biostimulants, trace elements and soil conditioners.

Brian first applied Ferro Top® microgranular fertiliser to his greens late last year and the success of that product resulted in him applying Floranid® Twin Eagle NK, a slow-release fertiliser, this year.

“We first applied Ferro Top® in autumn and the results I got coming out of winter were brilliant,” he said. “It has a nice bit of iron in it and makes the sward nice and dense.”

“I then went on to using the Floranid® Twin Eagle NK – which I applied at the end of June and the results have been phenomenal. We haven’t got an irrigation system here, and I’ve only got a bowser, so my timing of products is key. As soon as some rain was forecast, we applied the Floranid® Twin Eagle NK. Honestly, I put it on and couldn’t believe it – the greens have been unbelievable. I’ll look at going again with it in September and then I’ll apply Ferro Top® to prepare for winter.

“The greens are so green, so lush, and the COMPO products have put so much life back into them.

“A lot of fertilisers claim to do amazing things, but COMPO products actually do what they say they will. We don’t have a big budget and therefore every product I put down needs to work. With the COMPO products I know that I’m going to get results every time.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Royal Cromer supercharges sustainability mission

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Royal Cromer supercharges sustainability mission: Royal Cromer Golf Club, ranked in England’s Top 100, has doubled down on its commitment to sustainability with the help of Toro and Reesink Turfcare, expanding its fleet with three new Toro eTriFlex 3370 electric mowers and an upgraded Toro irrigation system.

Under the leadership of Course Manager Mark Heveran, who joined the club in 2010, Royal Cromer in Norfolk has already made impressive strides in terms of sustainability, working in collaboration with the R&A’s sustainable agronomy team, and reducing herbicide, pesticide, fungicide, and water use across its maritime, clifftop course.

Royal Cromer supercharges sustainability mission

Royal Cromer supercharges sustainability mission

Additionally, Royal Cromer has cut nitrogen inputs by over two-thirds and transformed the botanical composition of its turf, favouring bents and fescues for their improved resistance to drought, disease, erosion, and compaction.

As Mark explains, the next step on Royal Cromer’s green mission had to be investing in three new powerful Toro eTriFlex 3370 all-electric mowers, supplied by Reesink: “Being a Top 100 English club, we have more eyes on us than ever, so there’s never been a better time to upgrade our existing fleet. 

“Two of the mowers are eight-bladed and set up for tees and surrounds, while the other is eleven-bladed and perfect for greens,” he continues. “And the benefit with this setup is that they’re fully interchangeable. 

“We can easily swap the different units from one machine to another, giving us real versatility on the course. Each eTriFlex 3370 comes fully loaded with grooming brushes, which allow us to tiller the turf, removing any debris and preparing the grass leaf for the perfect cut. These mowers have been excellent so far, and the advancement in quality of cut is truly phenomenal.”

Given the course’s challenging clifftop terrain, safety is a key consideration for Royal Cromer, and one Mark takes seriously. “All our new Toro mowers are equipped with three-wheel drive kits,” he reveals. “For our coastal course, with its ranging undulations, these are perfect; the machines stick to the ground, so there are no sliding issues – which gives me peace of mind.”

In addition to the mowers, Royal Cromer has upgraded its existing Toro irrigation system. As part of the club’s mission to improve its biodiversity, Mark and the team are replacing artificial walkways with new natural alternatives, which will, of course, require irrigation. 

“Although we’ve added more sprinkler heads, we’re using the most up-to-date Lynx software from Toro to monitor and optimise our water usage,” explains Mark. “For the last 10 years, it has helped us reduce our water outputs significantly, monitoring and delivering our irrigation, right down to the millimetre.”

Indeed, Royal Cromer’s commitment to sustainability is part of a broader vision for the club’s promising future. “We’re setting up Royal Cromer for hundreds of years to come,” says Mark. “I see myself and my dedicated team as the custodians of this golf course, following in the footsteps of greats like Old Tom Morris, who played an important role in designing our course. And our goal is to take people on a journey, through a historic coastal golf course, while ensuring we operate as sustainably as possible.”

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Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings

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Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings: Ticking the boxes for build quality and ease of use is a Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck for the team at Newmarket Racecourse.

Not only that, the new delivery by Vanmac in June 2024 complements a pair of Progressive TDR-15’s and – at 50% wider – has contributed to significant savings in both labour and fuel-usage according to Estates Manager Alan Hatherley.

Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings

Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings

An iconic stop on the equine circuit, Newmarket Racecourse comprises of two courses – The July Course and Rowley Mile – which, between them, play host to 37 race meets between April and the end of October. Alan has been working on the site for 20 years, and for the last 12 of those, has been using solutions from Progressive for mowing the 28-hectares of racing surface.

“We’ve always been really impressed with the build quality and the aftersales service we get with Progressive, but with managing challenges with the weather and ever-tightening mowing windows, the time was right to add something wider” explains Alan, who heads-up a team of nine grounds staff. “We went straight to Vanmac and spoke with Jeremy Vincent about the TDR-22/6 tri-deck.”

The TDR-22/6 tri-deck roller finishing mower from Progressive combines productivity with performance – its 22 foot (6.7m) combined width, and front and rear rollers, and unique 6 blade rotors per deck deliver a precise and balanced cut, outstanding presentation and unbeatable contour following ability. “This, like our previous mowers, is well-built, not over-engineered and easy to maintain which, in practical terms, gives us a mower that’s user-friendly to operate and generally means fewer things to go wrong!”

Alan continues, “As soon as the TDR-22/6 tri-deck arrived at the end of June we were out with it straight away, to make the most of the time saving element. Where it used to take us nine hours to mow all areas of the two tracks, we can now complete the job in six. That doesn’t just reduce labour and give us a better chance to mow ahead of forecasted rainfall, it presents a significant reduction in fuel usage which is a big step towards reducing our environmental footprint.”

“We don’t cut when it’s wet but will mow as and when required throughout the year so, a mild winter for example, will see us continuing to mow in December. With the TDR-22/6 tri-deck, we know we can confidently get the job done quickly and effectively, no matter the ground conditions.”

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Makita trimmer stands poles apart

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Makita trimmer stands poles apart: The new cordless 40VMax XGT UN001G Brushless Pole Hedge Trimmer from Makita provides a lightweight and powerful option for cutting thick branches. Its performance capability comes from its 40Vmax XGT Li-ion battery and thick shear 600mm blade. In addition, professionals will appreciate smart, practical features that include an adjustable blade angle as well as a reverse function to clear jams.

One of the latest additions to Makita’s growing and reliable outdoor range, the XGT UN001G Pole Hedge Trimmer has been specifically designed for heavier load applications. Featuring a sharper three-facet obliquely ground blade (double sided rough cut type), the UN001G provides up to 4,000 cutting strokes per minute. With its 3-speed design, the trimmer offers an impressive maximum cutting diameter of 20mm. The angle of the head can be adjusted in six steps between 45o upward and 70o downwards. A new lock-off lever mechanism has been added as an additional safety feature and the machine also features an auto power off function to prevent accidental start-up if is left unused for a period of time.

Furthermore, the tool is significantly lighter than other trimmers currently available on the market at just 4.7 – 5.9kg, which means cutting thick branches overhead is made easier and more convenient. The inclusion of a grease nipple and the fact that oil can be supplied with a grease gun, without removing the bolt on the oil supply port, makes maintenance hassle free. Finally, when not in use, it can be folded down for easy transport and storage.

“The UN001G Brushless Cordless Pole Trimmer represents everything Makita is known for: performance and quality,” explained Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK. “It is IPX4 compatible and has been designed to help professional landscapers and grounds maintenance teams to tackle thick branches, even at height, with ease from ground level. Efficient and effective, it’s another high-performance addition to our expanding 40VMax XGT range.”

To find out more about the UN001G 40VMax XGT Brushless Cordless Pole Trimmer and other Makita products visit: www.makitauk.com.

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Successful dealer days at Carden Park

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Successful dealer days at Carden Park: Managers from some of the largest groundscare contractors in the UK and over 50 representatives from Ventrac’s UK dealer network attended demonstration days at the Carden Park Resort in Cheshire recently.

Hosted by the UK importer, Price Turfcare, the event was split into two days; the first day exclusively for contractors and the following day for the dealer staff.

Successful dealer days at Carden Park

Successful dealer days at Carden Park

This was the largest gathering of Ventrac equipment ever assembled in the UK and provided the Price Turfcare team with the opportunity to demonstrate to both groups that Ventrac is so much more than just a mower.

Both days followed a similar format with a mid-morning ‘meet & greet’ over coffee followed by a presentation on the Price Turfcare company and the Ventrac product offering from Managing Director Rupert Price. Following a light lunch, the afternoon sessions were dedicated to demonstrations of the numerous attachments in the Ventrac range and the opportunity for delegates to operate some of the equipment.

Interspersed between the demonstrations, there was the opportunity for delegates to use some of the extensive sporting facilities at Carden Park, which included axe throwing and archery. A convivial dinner completed each day.

Commenting at the conclusion of the second day, Rupert Price said,

“I was absolutely delighted with the success of the meeting. The first day was the ideal opportunity to demonstrate to the contractors present, some of them existing customers, that Ventrac is much more than a mower. It’s a multi-tool with a wide range of attachments that can add definitely add value to their business. We had eight tractor units and over 20 attachments and it was the biggest gathering of equipment we’ve ever had at one location.

“The second day was the first time, since we launched the business back in 2017, that we were able get our UK dealers together. We have had unprecedented success with this product, in fact there are now well over 400 machines operating in the UK today. Many of the dealer staff present have sold multiple machines and I wanted to remind some of the others that this a unique piece of equipment and once demonstrated, there’s a high percentage of a sale. It was also an opportunity for some fun, with axe throwing and archery proving particularly popular. Thankfully we had no casualties!

“Carden Park was the ideal venue and Peter Pattenden, the Golf Courses and Estate Manager, and his team were very accommodating in allowing us to use their facilities. They could not have been more helpful and they allowed us to use the trencher, stump grinder and power rake; pieces of equipment that are quite aggressive, enabling some of the delegates to see them in action for the first time.

“All in all, a very successful couple of days.”

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