GreenBest appoint Connor Burford

GreenBest appoint Connor Burford: The Somerset-based fertiliser company GreenBest team has expanded with the appointment of Connor Burford as Product Technologist. 

Connor joins GreenBest having worked in Devon after finishing his degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Plymouth. Whilst at university Connor worked in a variety of different scientific settings as a research assistant, including ecotoxicology.

GreenBest appoint Connor Burford

GreenBest appoint Connor Burford

With this new appointment GreenBest is strengthening their Quality Control process and introducing new systems to ensure optimum productivity across all ranges. Connor joins GreenBest at a stage of rapid growth in the company, having recently installed an onsite coating plant, and opened a new, secondary, site.

Connor explained “I’ve really enjoyed working at Greenbest thus far; the company has an impeccably heritage and reputation that it’s been an enjoyable challenge to find ways to refine and build on this.”

James Whittick, Sales & Marketing Director at GreenBest added “This is a really exciting time for GreenBest as we expand our product ranges and bring on new people to help with this. Connor has already proved himself an asset to the company, with a wealth of new ideas and practises to help take GreenBest further. We look forward to the future and the development that will bring.”

GreenBest also owns the Velvit and SmartLawn ranges for professional turf care and lawncare respectively.

For more information on GreenBest or any of its subsidiaries please email sales@greenbest.co.uk

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Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby

Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby: Gloucester Rugby Head Groundsman, Stuart Lambert, believes that the use of Attraxor® plant growth regulator (PGR), has helped him to achieve a stronger sward while simultaneously reducing the amount of Poa annua.

Stuart started at Gloucester Rugby in August 2018 and admits to learning and adapting to the way the pitch plays every single day. This means that he must be flexible in his maintenance strategy and be open to new products which could make a difference to the pitch at the Kingsholm Stadium.

Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby

Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby

He came across such a product at BTME 2020 in the form of Attraxor® plant growth regulator (PGR). In further researching the product, he found that it came highly recommended by Mark Allen from Agrovista Amenity and Adam King, Head Groundsman at Oxford United Football Club.

“Attraxor® appealed to me because PGR’s are a significant part of my overall maintenance strategy to improve the turf and control Poa annua,” said Stuart. “2020 was a particularly challenging year for Poa so I was keen to see what the product could offer. Speaking to Mark and Adam gave me the confidence to try it and the results have been far better than expected.”

Stuart claims that a lack of sunlight to the pitch led to an increase in Poa: “In the winter months almost the whole pitch is in shade because the stand is so high,” he said. “This has been a big factor for the care programme I have chosen to adopt. Maintaining grass coverage is a constant concern in the lower light months and the thinning grass often gives way to Poa annua in the spring which takes hold. It’s a tricky combination to contend with.

The lack of light, winter thinning and then the Poa means the turf is high maintenance. Couple this with the winter months being in heavy use and it means we are regularly out with pitch lights to encourage growth in match torn areas.”

After carrying out a mini renovation in June last year, Stuart applied 1.1 kg/ha of Attraxor® with 20kg of 46-0-0 nitrogen fertiliser. Attraxor® contains prohexadione-calcium, a new active ingredient that regulates growth and also limits the spread of Poa annua by reducing seed-head production.

“It visibly weakened the Poa,” said Stuart. “It looked stressed but the rye around it looked good. It turned the seed heads brown.”

Following the first application Stuart is now confident that Attraxor® will form an important part of his overall maintenance plan. “It is good to have a product that strengthens the sward and improves density whilst weakening the Poa. I definitely intend on applying it again,” he concluded.

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

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Bury Council’s environmentally friendly weed control

Bury Council’s environmentally friendly weed control: A new ’green’ way of killing weeds with hot water rather than glyphosate has been ordered by Bury Council.

The Multevo Hot Water Weed System uses boiling water rather than traditional herbicides to tackle weeds and can also be used for chemical-free high-pressure cleaning to remove grime, gum, graffiti and general sanitation of street furniture.

Bury Council's environmentally friendly weed control

Bury Council’s environmentally friendly weed control

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Many people have expressed concerns about the council using chemicals to tackle weeds, especially around schools and play areas, and want to see chemical-free alternatives used instead.

“I share their concerns, and have therefore ordered this new vehicle as part of our review into the use of herbicides and pesticides. It will enable us to keep the borough tidier in a much greener way.

“The machine can also be used to remove chewing gum and mosses and algae from surfaces so can also keep our town centres looking nicer.

“This is another part of Bury’s climate change commitment, alongside decarbonising council vehicles as much as possible and reducing energy use.”

Multevo are the sole UK supplier of Waterkracht’s range of hot water weed control equipment who have been manufacturing this type of equipment since the early 1990’s.

The equipment requires absolutely no additives to kill weeds and works by delivering an efficient low-pressure treatment accurately at 98°C to kill the cellular structure of the root using Waterkracht’s Boiling Hot water Technique®.

“We’re really pleased to see yet another council opt for our environmentally friendly weed control solution and wish them every success. We understand the pressures some councils are facing when it comes to chemicals and are confident that we can provide them with a cost effective and sustainable solution which will still provide productive outputs.” – Josh Sweeney, Director of Marketing & Growth.

Having recently hosted a successful live virtual demonstration of the equipment, Multevo are inviting those organisations looking to minimise the use of chemicals to get in touch to discuss trial hire or demo opportunities.

info@multevo.co.uk | 01254 703 212 | www.multevo.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/multevoltd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/multevo

Twitter: @Multevo

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Combination ticks all the boxes for Eastleigh

Combination ticks all the boxes for Eastleigh: Managing a high wear pitch, on a relatively tight budget is probably a story with which most non and lower league club grounds managers can relate.

For Eastleigh FC Head Groundsman Dan Barnes, the task is made slightly easier by getting the right seed in the ground first and foremost – and for this, he turns to Johnsons J Premier Pitch. Along with delivering superior wear tolerance, its resistance to disease has meant Dan has only applied fungicide once in the last four years.

Combination ticks all the boxes for Eastleigh

Combination ticks all the boxes for Eastleigh

Eastleigh FC moved to their home at the Silverlake Stadium in the 1950’s and limited investment since then has resulted in a pitch that struggles with drainage and requires thoughtful management – a challenge Dan picked up four years ago, despite having no previous Groundsmanship experience! “In those first few months I spent a lot of time undertaking qualifications and networking with other groundsmen as I sought to build a bank of suppliers” explains Dan, who is assisted only by a team of volunteers. “When it came to seed, after I tried Johnsons J Premier Pitch mixture, I’ve never wanted to use anything else.”

“Despite our challenging ground conditions, this mixture delivers on all of the key performance characteristics – it’s hard-wearing, gives us fantastic visual merit and has demonstrated fantastic tolerance to disease. In four years, we’ve had just one Fusarium outbreak which we could attribute to the use of pitch covers.” Due to budget constraints, Dan has to be creative when it comes to seeding, usually applying 50g per m2 during summer renovations and then overseeding at 25-30g per m2 in the autumn and again in the spring to see them through to the end of the season.

Last winter, Dan supplemented Premier Pitch with Johnsons J 4Turf to benefit from the lower temperature germination of DLF’s tetraploid ryegrass. “This gave the pitch a real boost through the winter and undoubtedly helped us get through a fixture pile-up we had in February 2021 where we hosted five games in a 19-day period. The increased root length we get with the J 4Turf mixture provides great additional strength and, along with J Premier Pitch, recovers brilliantly.”

“There is nothing more satisfying than being proud of the surface you present” Dan concludes. “This combination of Johnsons mixtures gives us a pitch that is always fit and ready for play which, in turn, satisfies the following of fans we are really fortunate to have here at the club.”

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PSD announce new sales appointment

PSD announce new sales appointment: PSD Groundscare, the exclusive UK distributor for AS Motor, Eliet, Koppl and TS Industrie professional groundscare machinery, are pleased to announce the recent appointment of Karl Savill as Business Development Manager covering the South East and East Midlands.

The appointment supports recent growth and ensures that customer’s expectations continue to be exceeded.

PSD announce new sales appointment

PSD announce new sales appointment

Stuart Mercer, Sales Director of PSD Groundscare said:

“Karl brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience including over 12 years working in the agricultural and groundscare industry along with a great amount of enthusiasm and is a fantastic addition to our team. His experience not only covers sales but also parts and service which I’m sure will see him thrive in his new role.”

Karl says of his new role, “I am delighted to have been appointed as the South East & East Midlands Business Development Manager for PSD Groundscare and to be working with a range of high quality brands. My passion has always been groundscare machinery, and I’m really excited and looking forward to working with dealers and getting out and meeting customers and demonstrating the fantastic capabilities and benefits of our machinery”.

Karl can be contacted on:

Mob: 07973 454002    Email: karl@psdgroundscare.com

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GrassMaster unveils new GEN-S machines

GrassMaster unveils new GEN-S machines: GrassMaster solutions, the worlds most proven provider of hybrid grass systems, is pleased to introduce the latest addition to our machine feet, the GrassMaster Gen-S. The addition of the new machinery will allow GrassMaster to increase capacity and upgrade the provision of services to clients.

“We are excited about this latest addition which helps keep us at the forefront within the hybrid grass sector. The Gen-S is electrically powered and allows our experienced installation
teams to stitch a GrassMaster pitch more quickly,” said Benjamin Huneau, General Manager GrassMaster Solutions. “The new lighter weight machine allows for lower down-pressures on the surface, thus reducing the machine’s impact when working on young grass.”

GrassMaster unveils new GEN-S machines

GrassMaster unveils new GEN-S machines

BENJAMIN HUNEAU, GENERAL MANAGER

The acquisition of the Gen-S Machines showcases GrassMaster’s contnued investment in people, technology and equipment. Equipped with this technology, GrassMaster gives clients the confidence of x100’s of proven installations allied with excellent stitching quality, fibre resilience and speed of installation.

KEY MACHINE CHARACTERISTICS

• 1760mm stitching width
• 8T fully loaded weight (including fibre)
• Powered by electric (diesel generated or mains)
• Robust hydraulic stitching unit
• 7days to complete a standard pitch (7500m2)
• Accurate + variable stitch spacing & depth

BENEFITS OF GRASSMASTER

IMPROVED PLAYER WELFARE
Fibre reinforces the sand based root-zone, ensuring a fat surface with optimal levels of traction, firmness and energy restitution to reduce player injuries

INCREASED RETURN ON INVESTMENT

The injection of GrassMaster fibre helps to reduce damage to the grass by protecting the crown of the plant from vertical and lateral forces exerted by players to increase the hours of play available on the pitch

GrassMaster unveils new GEN-S machines

GrassMaster unveils new GEN-S machines

MAXIMUM LIFETIME VALUE

GrassMaster is the only stitched system with a proven lifespan of 10 years, with the oldest GrassMaster pitches still performing well at 15+ offering incredible value for money over the lifetime of the pitch

BESPOKE ENGINEERED YARN

The GrassMaster fibre is produced by fellow Tarket Company Morton extrusions in Germany. Employing some of the world’s leading materials scientists the in house expertise and R&D capabilities are leveraged in order to continually improve our fibre characteristics across all of our product lines

GRASSMASTER SOLUTIONS BY TARKETT SPORTS

GrassMaster Solutons is the hybrid grass division of Tarket Sports, which is a worldwide manufacturer and installer of innovative and durable sports surfaces. GrassMaster Solutions covers two hybrid grass technologies: GrassMaster, a hybrid grass system with a proven lifespan of 15 years and more, and PlayMaster, a flexible solution that ensures a quick installation and an instant playability. GrassMaster is currently installed at renowned venues like the Puskás Aréna, FMG Stadium Waikato, Wembley Stadium and countless others.

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Kubota launches new V tracked dump truck

Kubota launches new V tracked dump truck: Kubota has expanded its extensive range of track dumpers with the launch of two new Stage V emissions compliant models. The KC300HR-5 and KC300H-5, are compact and powerful and are ideal for transporting construction materials quickly and efficiently, especially in rough terrain. 

Both models have a maximum load capacity of 2,875 kg and are capable of transporting large quantities of material in a short time. In the H version, the machine is equipped with a hydraulic three-sided tiltable loading trough. The tipping angle of this model is max. 55°, the tipping angle of the HR version is max. 84°. In addition, the tipper is equipped with a stepless, hydraulic 180° rotation function (HR – hydraulic rotation 90° right / 90° left). With this version, the rotation function can be actuated at the same time as the tipping of the body. This gives the operator the great advantage of being able to unload the bulk material with pinpoint accuracy, which significantly increases the flexibility of the machine.

Kubota launches new V tracked dump truck

Kubota launches new V tracked dump truck

The heart of these two models is the liquid-cooled Kubota diesel engine V2403, which complies with the current European exhaust gas stage V. The four-cylinder diesel engine enables the machine to be operated with a high degree of flexibility. It provides the operator with a wide power spectrum in all working situations and, if required, a high driving speed of up to 11 km/h, even when loaded. Other design features include a robust crawler chassis that guarantees the operator efficient and comfortable working. Ground clearance is 330 mm, ensuring avoidance of obstacles and making machine use on uneven terrain much easier.

In addition to outstanding versatility and performance, special emphasis was also placed on driver comfort when developing these new track dumpers. The comfortable, reversible seat allows the driver to turn 180 degrees and face the opposite direction of travel. This allows the driver to quickly and easily adjust his seating position to the corresponding loading direction at all times, even in tight construction sites. Joystick operation and a digital display showing all important engine and machine data ensure simple and smooth operation and are always in the operator’s field of vision, even in reverse gear and with the seat direction adjusted.

Glen Hampson, Construction Division Manager at Kubota,  said, “These two KC300H-5 and HR-5 models are an exciting new addition to our track dumper range and the result of years of experience and continuous investment in new product development. The KC300-5 meets the latest European Stage V diesel emissions regulations and combines power and speed with unbeatable flexibility – all in a compact design.

For more information on the Kubota KC300H-5 and HR-5 models, visit: https://kuk.kubota-eu.com/constructionmachinery/products/track-dumpers/kc300h-hr-5/

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Jacobsen celebrates 20-years at Sage Valley

Jacobsen celebrates 20-years at Sage Valley: Since the construction of Sage Valley Golf Club in 2001, Jacobsen mowers have covered every blade of grass on the 4000-acre site, and in those two decades, they have always impressed.

The private members club located just outside of Augusta, Georgia, sits within thousands of acres of preserved southern pine forest, and at its heart is the 18-hole, 7,344-yard course and three practice holes. Along with every blade of grass on the 4000 plus acre site, these courses are maintained by the Director of Agronomy, Dustin Purdue, and his team.

Jacobsen celebrates 20-years at Sage Valley

Jacobsen celebrates 20-years at Sage Valley

With roadsides, fields, common areas and the courses under his control, the importance of having mowers for specific areas can’t be underestimated. For Dustin, it is the Jacobsen machines’ versatility that has played a significant part in their success.

“We maintain 125 acres of turf, so it’s a large area,” Dustin begins. “Most golf courses are in the 80 to 90-acre range, so when we are growing, and in the growing season and full-on mowing, we need every day and every minute just to stay on top of the amount of grass we have to mow.

“We’re maintaining things from a tenth of an inch on the greens all the way to two inches in the rough and then fields per se or just native roadside grasses. So having the ability for one supplier to have all of those pieces of equipment is definitely helpful.

“On our greens, we use the Eclipse 2 walk mowers, 22-inch. We have floating head units that we use on the bent grass greens on the big course, and then we have the fixed head units that we use on our TifEagle Bermudagrass greens on the Par 3 course.

“We also use the fixed head units to mow all of our tees on the big course, and we use the GP400s to mow approaches on both courses. We use SLF530s to mow fairways, and I use the TR330s to cut the rough.

“For quality of cut, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I feel like they hold up very well; they don’t need adjustments that often, the quality of cut, the quality of the steel and the materials used is great. Once they’re set, we’re able to go out and not have to make adjustments that often.”

Over 20-years at Sage Valley, Jacobsen has become part of the team. As the expectations from golfers and the world at large have changed, so has the product offering and speed of customer service. For years Dustin’s Jacobsen team off the course has kept the greenkeeping team on it, and it is that combination that makes everything click into place at Sage Valley.

“For us Superintendents, I’d say at the end of the day, it’s just our plan, but our plan’s no good if we don’t have a team to help us implement it. So I definitely would like to deflect and give my team any praise if possible because, again, I can have the best plan and dream in the world, but if we can’t go out and get it done, then it’s no good.

“I think in this day and age, specifically in the golf industry, but I also believe abroad, customer service is a huge part of the success of larger companies.

“I believe society nowadays just moves at a faster pace, and you kind of need everything right then, and I believe we’ve just come to expect it, so having great service is huge.”

Find your nearest Jacobsen dealer on their new website: https://www.jacobsen.com/?utm_source=Turf%20Business&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Turf%20Business%20E-Newsletter%20April

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GGM Group a UK distributor of RoviMo

GGM Group a UK distributor of RoviMo: The GGM Group is delighted to announce they have signed a new distribution agreement with Swiss manufacturer Ronovatec to promote an innovative new robotic mower for sports grounds maintenance throughout the UK.

GGM Group plan to arrange the first public demonstration of the all new RoviMo, as soon as government restrictions allow. RoiMo’s intelligent design allows for the autonomous mowing of professional Sports turf saving potentially thousands of man hours in the maintenance of sports fields and stadiums.

GGM Group a UK distributor of RoviMo

GGM Group a UK distributor of RoviMo

The RoviMo is the world’s first intelligent electric vehicle capable of mowing patterns autonomously according to the guidelines of national football associations, UEFA, or FIFA, precisely and over the shortest distance, horizontally, vertically and with chessboard pattern, at the touch of a button. Supervision of the mowing process by an employee is not necessary.

Operated simply and efficiently remotely via an app, RoviMo® can also be used for mowing other large green areas, such as company premises or parks, and will be developed to be utilised by golf courses. RoviMo® is a multifunctional equipment carrier, which will be able to carry out other work processes such as maintenance of artificial turf, line marking and various other labour-intensive tasks.

RoviMo is currently in it’s final stages of development and field testing with the first machine installations in July 2021.  GGM are planning to arrange several demonstration events over the coming months, current restrictions permitting.

The GGM Group, based in Colne, Lancashire, has a rich heritage and proactively seeks new solutions on an ongoing basis. The new deal with Ronovatec marries perfectly with its strong values of professionalism, innovation, and providing progressive solutions that support its commitment to work towards cardon neutrality.

GGM Group Managing Director Chris Gibson explains more:

“RoviMo is something completely different, and it’s extremely exciting to be working with Ronovatec on what we believe will be a game changer in professional turfcare. RoviMo adds state of art technology to our portfolio allowing us to offer customers the next generation of intelligent mowers.  We are thrilled to have been involved from the early stages of development of these new innovative machines; they are the perfect addition to our product range as we continue to grow in the sports ground sectors”.

Chris Gibson continued:

“Over recent years there has been a trend for turfcare professionals to increase their green credentials and RoviMo not only offers this but achieves reduced cost and increased efficiency simultaneously. A fully charged RoviMo will mow circa 16’000 m2 in 5-6 hours depending on pattern and terrain, all without employee supervision of the mowing process, saving many man hours and employment costs. In addition, RoviMo® is fully electric, CO2-free, and autonomous with low noise pollution and is therefore ecologically sustainable and economically unbeatable. It’s a win-win for the customer.”

Chris Gibson concluded:

“It’s fantastic to be involved with this innovation at its development stage. While final machinery specifications are yet to be confirmed, we are very much looking forward to arranging the first public showing just as soon as we are allowed. Signing this deal is just the start, forging the path for things to come – the future of sports turf maintenance looks exciting”.

To register your interest and find out how the RoviMo can benefit your operations please register your interest at https://promo.ggmgroundscare.com/RoviMo or contact the project lead at GGM; Andy Melville; Tel: 07973 454001; Email: andy@ggmgroundscare.co.uk

Key benefits of the RoviMo include:

  • Fully Autonomous Intelligent Mowing
  • Fully Electric
  • Zero Co2
  • Reduced labour costs
  • Low noise
  • fuel cost savings
  • No hydraulics
  • Lower weight
  • Lower maintenance costs
  • Optional: Autonomous grass collector/dumper

About GGM

The GGM Group consists of two businesses across two depots. PSD Groundscare is the national distributor of specialist landscaping equipment, including AS Motor, Eliet, Koppl and TS Industries. GGM Groundscare is a specialist supplier of tractors and high-quality professional land-based equipment for commercial and domestic use. Servicing the North West and Yorkshire, it supplies a range of products from leading franchises including Kubota, Baroness and Dennis / Sisis and Amazone.

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‘Fantastic’ Ventrac for Essendon

‘Fantastic’ Ventrac for Essendon: Essendon Country Club, located deep in the heart of the Hertfordshire countryside, has purchased a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and a trencher attachment to help maintain its two 18-hole parkland courses.

Course Manager Craig Gibson, an industry veteran of 31 years, is delighted with the new addition to his fleet and says,

'Fantastic' Ventrac for Essendon

‘Fantastic’ Ventrac for Essendon

“It’s fantastic; I’m hugely impressed. It’s not often a piece of kit excites us, but this is very different as we can use it all year round. The lads love it, it’s easy to use as you can just jump on and go. It’s really popular with the team.

“I first saw it at another club and was impressed with its tidy finish, then by chance Rupert Price cold-called me to see if we wanted a demo, so I invited him along. We have a clay-based courses and can be very wet in winter, but this machine is brilliant in the wet. Following the demo, it was like a ‘light bulb’ moment, so I made the made the business case to the club management and we agreed the purchase.

“At the moment we have the Trencher attachment as we’re putting in additional drainage, but Rupert kindly loaned me a Tough Cut deck as well, which is an awesome attachment and makes light work of brush and scrub in the woodland margins.

“My next purchase will definitely be the Contour deck attachment. This is an articulating deck which we will use for our bunkers and green surrounds. That’s the unique selling point of Ventrac; it’s so versatile and it can get to areas on the course that other machines simply can’t access.”

After leaving school in 1990, Craig Gibson completed a Level 2 NVQ in Sports Turf Management before taking up his first job at Welwyn Garden City Golf Club. From here he moved to the Forest of Dean, then onto Forest Hills as deputy course manager, where he spent 10 years. He then returned to Hertfordshire as head groundsman at St Christopher’s School in Letchworth before joining Essendon as course manager in 2007.

Essendon Country Club (formerly Hatfield London Country Club) consists of two 18-hole parkland courses, known as The Old course and The New course. The Old course is an undulating 6,800-yard mature parkland course designed by Fred Hawtree and opened in 1976. The New course, opened in 1992, is somewhat flatter but at 7,100 yard offers a challenge to any golfer. The club has a modern approach to golf welcoming all levels of golfer and the clubhouse, built around a 16th century barn, offers excellent facilities.

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