Seismic shift in golf entertainment growth

/in , /by

Seismic shift in golf entertainment growth: Golf clubs and courses can drive new business by learning from the “seismic shift” and growth in the golf entertainment sector, new research from Syngenta and Ipsos has found.

Golf & Social Media: Golf Entertainment, published today, reveals customers new to golf perceive golf entertainment venues to offer “more engaging” and “more welcoming” experiences.

Seismic shift in golf entertainment growth

Seismic shift in golf entertainment growth

Launching the report, which analyzed 16.1 million social media posts, shares and comments in the United States and United Kingdom, Syngenta Global Head of Marketing Mark Birchmore said: “The emergence of golf entertainment has been one of the most seismic shifts we’ve witnessed in the industry in recent years.

“According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), off-course play has skyrocketed by 55% since 2017, now totalling 32.9m participants, compared with a more modest 8% growth in green grass players.

“It begs the question, have green grass clubs and facilities missed out on new customers by not creating the right offer? Nearly a decade ago we carried out market research to look at youth participation and asked ‘what would encourage young people to start golf?’. This revealed a number of pull factors, including the desire for casual dress, an enjoyable, fun, social environment and golf games and new formats: all areas golf entertainment venues excel at.”

The research found that ranges and putting venues are seen to be more engaging and have a better image and reputation among customers than traditional green grass golf courses. Golf entertainment venues are perceived as open to all, offering informal, inclusive experiences for groups of friends with food and drink on tap.

Social media posts also revealed customers thought golf entertainment venues were more welcoming and less intimidating than green grass clubs and courses, with a relaxed atmosphere and no dress code making it the ideal place to sample golf.

The new report is part of a wider study, Golf & Social Media: The Great Divide, which found that there is a clear division between customers who perceive they are a golfer (Insiders) and those who do not (Outsiders).

Many visitors to entertainment outlets such as Topgolf, where technology, gaming and hospitality combine, fall into the Outsiders camp.

“Golf entertainment venues and their success at attracting a huge, new diverse audience presents a massive opportunity for golf course businesses,” continued Mark Birchmore.

“Creating inclusive, welcoming experiences characterized by fun and informality, promoted online with viral content, is something green grass golf venues can take and adapt. In this way, golf’s image and reputation can also be improved, helping attract and engage new waves of customers.”

The report also shines a light on the people around the world shaping golf entertainment’s growth, such as 3s, the 12-hole floodlit concept backed by Justin Timberlake, and a college student posting viral mini-golf videos on TikTok.

Data for the report was provided by Ipsos, with 16.1 million mentions of golf on social media in the United States and UK analyzed over a three-year period (2019-2022).

To download this report and all previous Syngenta market studies, visit: www.syngentagolf.com/golf-industry-reports

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.

Hybrid technology taken to the next level

/in , /by

Hybrid technology taken to the next level: New for this year, the industry’s first and only fairway mower with a true hybrid drive system, the Toro Reelmaster 5010-H, has been given a comprehensive upgrade.

Toro is always listening to its customers, and it turns out there are quite a few improvements made to this revolutionary mower based on R&D and customer feedback, all with the intention to enhance performance and provide better machine control.

Hybrid technology taken to the next level

Hybrid technology taken to the next level

Jon Cole, divisional business manager for Toro’s UK distributor Reesink Turfcare, explains:

“The technology of the 5010-H is proven beyond doubt since its launch in 2015 with the hybrid elements of the engine design particularly impressing customers. Therefore, what I think many will be pleased to learn is that most of these advances relate to the hybrid technology.”

In brief, more electronic components have been added. Leading with the fact that the hydrostatic drive is now electronically controlled, and with this simple change, Toro has added its SmartPower system to automatically control mowing speed and optimise cutting performance.

In essence, what this technology does is monitor the engine’s RPM. Previously, the operator was responsible for controlling the machine’s speed when mowing long or wet grass or climbing a steep hill, now, the machine does it automatically. As the RPM drops, traction speed decreases until it recovers back to the desired speed and by maintaining optimal cylinder and blade speed a better and more consistent cut is produced.

The same technology also means that as speed decreases the traction pedal still moves an entire stroke giving increased resolution for tight turning in tight quarters. So, for customers mowing training grounds or a relatively flat golf course, they can slow down the engine speed to peak torque curve rather than peak of the horsepower curve.

It means the same results can be achieved with the engine 2600rpm on flat ground compared to 3000rpm, saving on fuel consumption, and lowering the noise level output.

With SmartPower also comes cruise control and this allows for a more consistent clip rate. Rather than relying on the operator’s foot to maintain a consistent speed the machine does that, as well as allowing maximum speed settings to be set. Whether the setting is at four or six miles an hour doesn’t affect quality, clip rate is not affected, and the same results will be achieved, it just helps with operator training and preferences.

There is so much more that’s been tweaked with this machine but the real benefits for customers as Jon sees it are: “These changes mean customers can focus on cutting, on achieving that fine mowing detail, following the clean-up edge of the fairway for example, rather than focusing on the speed at which they’re mowing. This is where everyone including members will see the difference, there’s more precision for better presentation.”

To discuss the greener option for the golf course, contact Reesink Turfcare on 01480 226800 or visit reesinkturfcare.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.

We Care, That You Care

/in , /by

We Care, That You Care: As we approach STIGA‘s 90th anniversary, the gardening mower and tool company stands at a unique intersection of rich heritage and exciting possibilities.

The ‘We Care, That You Care’ campaign embodies the STIGA passion for nature and the pledge towards a more sustainable future.  The goal? To support 90 community garden groups throughout the UK, honouring each year of the 90th anniversary, by empowering others with innovative, eco-friendly garden products.

We Care, That You Care

We Care, That You Care

Become one of the Stiga 90!

STIGA believes that everyone deserves the chance to cultivate beautiful spaces responsibly, and during 2024 the team are giving away their eco-friendly garden products to community garden groups, up and down the UK, for free! ‘We care that you care’, and this is our way of showing you we care.

Cultivating Connections

The campaign is aimed at a diverse array of community groups, from schools and hospital gardens to urban gardens, food bank gardens, community gardens and guerrilla gardeners. Each one of these groups represents a unique opportunity for STIGA to engage, help and empower local communities.

Growing together

Communities and individuals associated with the community group can engage with STIGA through a dedicated web page, where information about their project will be collected and products selected that will benefit their project. This process ensures every aspiring group has an equal opportunity to bloom with STIGA.

How to get involved

If you are responsible for any non-profit, community group or charity that looks after a green space and would like to receive products from STIGA’s innovative, eco-friendly garden product range…for free, then simply register on the wecare.stigauk.com website.

The STIGA judging panel will assess your application along with your social engagement tokens. You will be notified if you are successful, stating the free products that will be donated to your community group.

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.

ISEKI tractor and Wiedenmann blower double

/in , /by

ISEKI tractor and Wiedenmann blower double: One of Scotland’s most notable private estates, which has unrivalled cultural and historical significance, has welcomed a Wiedenmann Whisper Twister blower and ISEKI TH 5420 compact tractor.

Kinross House, in Kinross-shire, overlooks Loch Leven, the largest loch in the Scottish Lowlands. Its formal gardens were planted in 1675, and its magnificent estate includes a national nature reserve, and is a short boat trip from the medieval island castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1567.

ISEKI tractor and Wiedenmann blower double

ISEKI tractor and Wiedenmann blower double

Beautifully and sensitively restored in the last decade, this magnificent Scottish Palladian mansion now operates as a luxurious private retreat.

Head Gardener, Colin MacDonald, who, is responsible for maintaining around 100 acres of exquisitely manicured lawns and landscaped gardens and a further 100 acres of woodlands said:

“We chose the Whisper Twister primarily to blow off residual grass cuttings and present lawns to best effect. Until now we’ve tidied up with backpack blowers but once regular grass cutting resumes, the Wiedenmann will save hours of time every week. It will also double up for leaf blowing and keeping pathways clear. We’re looking forward to discovering lots of new uses across the season.”

The ISEKI purchase replaced a smaller 20 hp tractor which had come to the end of its lifetime.

“The tractor choice was about being Stage V compliant, future proofing and adding horsepower. We needed it to be bigger, so 40 hp is incredibly useful. We’ve earmarked some attachments for cutting and managing the turf and pathways, all which we hope to have soon. Adding efficiency while still maintaining quality is important. We owe it to the House to always present the gardens at their best.”

Fairways GM’s Area Sales Manager, Michael Lindsay, conducted installation training with Colin and his team of three gardeners: Joanne Curran, (on tractor), Gavin Smith and Craig Paterson.

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.

J Premier Pitch makes impressive debut

/in , /by

J Premier Pitch makes impressive debut: Ticking the boxes for wear tolerance and fast germination, J Premier Pitch from Johnsons Sports Seed has impressed during its debut season at Dartford Football Club.

Under the supervision of Head Groundsman Jay Berkhauer and the team at Jordans Sportsground Solutions, J Premier Pitch was chosen due to a tight six-week renovation window, delivering a quality surface for the first game of season and demonstrating great resilience, despite challenging conditions, ever since.

J Premier Pitch makes impressive debut

J Premier Pitch makes impressive debut

Jay has been in the industry for 20 years, working on all manner of sports surfaces from Premier League clubs to grassroots facilities, schools, cricket clubs and everything in-between! For the last seven years he’s been an operative for contractors Jordans Sportsground Solutions and has been based at Dartford FC, of the National League South, for five seasons. “This pitch gets a lot of use!” he exclaims. “We’ve got four teams that play here so when it comes to renovating and preparing the pitch we know we need seed that can handle high levels of stress and wear, and meets the budget and resources we have available.”

“We’d heard about the quick establishment and germination of Johnsons, and with only five and a half weeks between our renovation and the first game, this was going to be critical. We sowed J Premier Pitch end of May 2023, saw the first sprouts of germination within seven days and by the first game of the season we were as good as gold!”

J Premier Pitch has delivered proven performance on some of the greatest sporting stages globally. The new 2024 formulation blends five top-rated perennial ryegrass cultivars to create a mixture with exceptional wear tolerance, disease resistance and outstanding visual merit. “After the impressive initial germination, we’ve also noticed the pitch has held up really well given the very wet winter and sustained high levels of play. There has also been a significant reduction in the amount of Red Thread we’ve seen in comparison to previous years.”

“While we may not have the luxury of a big budget or two weeks of recovery time between fixtures, we still very much aim for professionalism in the product we deliver. By hand seeding goal mouths and spot treating problematic areas we can maintain a pitch that looks good and plays well for the whole season. J Premier Pitch, for us, has been the right balance of price and quality” he concludes.

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.