Brent Downs becomes BIGGA’s 90th Master Greenkeeper

/in , /by

Brent Downs becomes BIGGA’s 90th Master Greenkeeper: Otter Creek director of agronomy Brent Downs has become the 90th Master Greenkeeper since the certification’s inception in 1990.

In doing so, Brent, 43, is just the 36th person to possess both Master Greenkeeper and Certified Golf Course Superintendent classifications, two of the highest accolades available to experienced golf greenkeepers on either side of the Atlantic.

Brent Downs becomes BIGGA’s 90th Master Greenkeeper

Brent Downs becomes BIGGA’s 90th Master Greenkeeper

Of the moment he was told he had been successful in achieving Master Greenkeeper status, Brent said: “It was amazing and there were a lot of different emotions. I know the journey to get there and a lot of people have walked it before me, so it was equal parts shock and gratitude. The elation, thankfulness and introspection came later.”

Although a resident of Indiana in the Midwest United States, Brent attributes much of his success to experiences gained during spells in Australia and the United Kingdom. Having interned at Loch Lomond Golf Club in 2007, Brent has become the fourth Master Greenkeeper to be associated with the Argyll & Bute course, following in the footsteps of Ken Siems, David Cole and Janne Lehto.

“Not a whole lot of people get the opportunity to intern in Scotland and Australia at the beginning of my career,” said Brent. That just changed my perspective and my worldview so much. It was the first time I ever heard about Master Greenkeeper, because even though there are only 90 of us, four of them are in some way tied to Loch Lomond Golf Club – Ken Siems and David Cole, who were my bosses at the time, and now Janne Lehto and me are Master Greenkeepers 89 and 90.”

After word of Brent’s achievement was circulated to his fellow Master Greenkeepers, he was flooded by congratulations.

“I’m proud of the part I played in this, but you don’t ever accomplish anything like this on your own,” said Brent. “It takes a village and I’m grateful for the Master Greenkeepers that mentored me, coached me and calmed down – they just kept encouraging me to stay with it.

“The minute Deb [Burnett, BIGGA Learning and Development Manager] sent out that email, I don’t think I’ve ever received so many congratulations. It was at that moment I realised what a community or family Master Greenkeeper is.”

To qualify for the Master Greenkeeper Certificate, a candidate must have at least 10 years’ experience working as a greenkeeper including three years as a course manager, head greenkeeper or superintendent. Certification includes the completion of a rigorous assessment programme that covers all aspects of golf course management.

Master Greenkeeper is a mark of distinction and is highly respected in the golf industry, signifying the holder has achieved the highest level of professional expertise with a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of golf course management.

You can find out more about Master Greenkeeper on the BIGGA website, www.bigga.org.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Powering Success for Whitby Town FC and JC Gardening

/in , /by

Powering Success for Whitby Town FC and JC Gardening: In the coastal town of Whitby, Joe Cook wears many hats. Not only is he the Head Groundsman for Whitby Town FC, overseeing the maintenance of their pitch, but he also runs his own gardening business, JC Gardening. In both of his roles, one tool stands out as indispensable: the Avant compact loader.

“Whitby is a very close community, and the football club is at the heart of the town,” says Joe. However, maintaining the pitch hasn’t always been easy. “Over the years it has been fair to say that no real renovations have been carried out, and no programme set in place. I’m starting to change that now.”

Powering Success for Whitby Town FC and JC Gardening

Powering Success for Whitby Town FC and JC Gardening

Enter the Avant compact loader, a versatile workhorse that has become Joe’s go-to solution for pitch renovations and maintenance tasks. “For the renovations, we put the bucket on to fill the contractor’s trailer up when they are spreading the sand. It is very useful,” he remarks.

Additionally, the Avant aids in accessing hard-to-reach areas of the football ground. “At the football ground, I use it to carry people up to the floodlights where they can receive maintenance or be readjusted where needed.” The Avant’s versatility shines through as it also occasionally transitions to cutting the pitch with the mower attachment.

Joe relies on loaders from the Avant 500 series, sourced through APSV, the main dealers for Avant compact loaders in North Yorkshire, Co. Durham, and Northumberland. “The relationship with APSV is brilliant,” Joe praises. “They are always on the other end of the phone if I need them and will always accommodate the best they can.”

The Avant 500 series, known for its power and manoeuvrability, has become a reliable partner for Joe’s diverse needs. With over 200 attachments available, the Avant offers a solution for every task, from plowing and sanding to lawn care and brush clearance. “I use it a lot for my own business too, particularly for clearing brush land with the flail mower attachment,” Joe adds. “It excels on a brush land area which is a couple of acres, all of different levels. It cuts through the brush in no time at all.”

Describing the Avant as a “Swiss army knife,” Joe highlights its versatility and adaptability. “Whether you want a snow blower or a rake for clearing out stalls on farms, it can do anything. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Avant – I have already passed on APSV’s number to lots of other people who the machine would benefit.”

As Joe continues to juggle his responsibilities at Whitby Town FC and JC Gardening, the Avant compact loader remains an essential machine which enables him to tackle any challenge with ease and efficiency.

For more information, please visit www.avanttecno.com/uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

GGM Group announce new specialist

/in , /by

GGM Group announce new specialist: GGM Group, the leading specialist supplier of high quality professional groundscare equipment and after-sales support are pleased to announce the recent re-appointment of Rob Taylor as Area Sales Manager.

Rob is a well-known face throughout the area and has extensive experience in groundscare, most recently within the Golf sector. His role will see him working alongside the rest of the GGM team to develop the sales of the GGM product portfolio including Kubota, Baroness, Amazone, Dennis, SISIS and commercial robotic mowers throughout West Yorkshire and Lancashire.

GGM Group announce new specialist

GGM Group announce new specialist

Rob’s appointment demonstrates GGM’s ongoing commitment of building an ever-growing team capable of exceeding customer expectations and delivering first class sales, hire and service support across the North West of England and Yorkshire.

Rob is delighted to be re-joining the GGM team and says,

“I know from my time previously at GGM that the ‘GGM’ name holds a strong reputation across all groundscare sectors and this gives customers confidence to work with us. We offer an unrivalled level of customer service both in our sales and after sales offering. Our Parts team are on-hand with a large stock-holding offering if required as are our team of highly skilled engineers and technicians who are able to offer any required technical advice or assistance.

I’m really looking forward to getting out and about and seeing some old friends and meeting new customers.’

Chris Gibson, GGM Managing Director says,

“We’re delighted to welcome Rob back to the GGM Team. He has extensive industry experience including hands-on experience as a Greenkeeper and this knowledge of what is really required at ground level is incredibly valuable and his approach to customer service is outstanding and I’m sure he will hit the ground running.”

Rob can be contacted by Tel: 07960 024657 or email: rob@ggmgroup.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Bernhard and Company unveils new brochure

/in , /by

Bernhard and Company unveils new brochure: Bernhard and Company has unveiled its all-new brand and sharpening systems brochure, packed with comprehensive details and stunning visuals, showcasing the company’s latest offerings and renowned customer service.

The new brochure includes full details of Bernhard and Company’s latest grinding machinery, including the recently launched Express Dual 4300 reel grinder. The brochure also features the full range of Anglemaster bedknife grinding machines, as well as small machines and accessories.

Bernhard and Company unveils new brochure

Bernhard and Company unveils new brochure

Steven Nixon, Managing Director for Bernhard and Company, said: “We’re really pleased to have launched our brand-new product brochure. In addition to extensive product information, we’ve added great new visuals, interactive elements, and consumer case studies to give prospective customers everything they need during the buying process.

“Our customers are the bedrock of our business, and their feedback provides us with key information on how we can improve our products and services. So, it was crucial for us to ensure that we included as much customer opinion as possible within this brochure, to really allow those viewing it to understand what it is like to be a customer of Bernhard and Company – no matter the type or scale of business,” he added.

This digitally interactive brochure also includes QR codes throughout, that link to videos of customer case studies from all around the world, and product demonstrations to allow prospective customers to gather deeper insight into the products and solutions on offer.

The new Bernhard and Company brochure for 2024 is easy to download by visiting: https://bernhard.co.uk/product-brochure/

To find out more about Bernhard and Company, you can visit the company’s website: www.bernhard.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

It’s GKB for GBB!

/in , /by

It’s GKB for GBB!: As the team at GBB Services look to extend their operation to include the maintenance and cleaning of synthetic surfaces, it’s a Deep Clean from GKB Machines trusted with the task at hand.

The Harrogate-based sports turf contractors purchased the unit in early 2024 having identified a number of 3G and 4G installations in their local area and have already seen dramatic improvements in pitch presentation and playability in as little as a one pass.

It’s GKB for GBB!

It’s GKB for GBB!

Family-run GBB Services offer a wide range of landscaping and groundwork services for commercial and domestic customers across North Yorkshire. For sports surfaces, Owner George Booth along with business partner Iain Bullock and their small team can offer the full complement of maintenance operations – including those for synthetic turf with their recent purchase from GKB. “We know a number of facilities locally, particularly schools, that conduct regular brushing but maybe don’t have the time or resources to carry out the more thorough cleaning that’s required” George explains.

“We spoke to Tom Shinkins at GKB about the cleaning systems available and he brought the Deep Clean in for a demo. The day was particularly wet, but even in those challenging conditions we could see how effective it was and so purchased the machine there and then!”

The GKB Deep Clean quickly and effectively screens and clean-out contaminants from a synthetic surface in a single pass. The combination of a vibrating screen and vacuum unit removes dirt, dust and other detritus returning clean, de-compacted infill to the surface for optimal visual and play performance.

“We’ve had to wait for the weather to play ball but have now had the Deep Clean out conducting its first job on a sand-dressed pitch at a local school and it did a really great job. It stood the pile up, removed a surprising amount of contamination and left a really good finish which meant the whole job was complete in a matter of a few hours.”

“We can now move onto the next job with the confidence of knowing the optimal set-up and speed required to achieve the desired results.” He continues, “I think we’re yet to discover the full potential of this machine, but with the support of Tom at GKB who has been excellent, Iain and I undoubtedly see it opening new doors for us which we’re excited about.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.