BIGGA and Bernhard and Company select greenkeepers

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BIGGA and Bernhard and Company select greenkeepers: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and Premium Partner Bernhard and Company have selected 10 association members to engage in one of the sports turf industry’s most prestigious learning opportunities. 

A BIGGA Premium Partner, each year Bernhard and Company invites 10 BIGGA members to attend the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America’s (GCSAA) Conference and Trade Show, this year taking place in Phoenix, Arizona.  A spot on the delegation marks out a candidate as among the most dedicated and talented ambassadors for the golf greenkeeping sector.

BIGGA and Bernhard and Company select greenkeepers

BIGGA and Bernhard and Company select greenkeepers

With experiences designed to elevate the careers of those in attendance, the delegation is a week-long educational trip that features site visits as well as seminars, networking events and educational demonstrations. The successful delegates will also be invited to convene at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in January, where they will meet former participants in the programme, many of whom have gone on to great success in their careers.

The BIGGA members selected for the 2024 BIGGA Delegation with Bernhard and Company are:

  • Robert Acheson, course manager, Thonock Park Golf Club
  • Harry Cannon, head greenkeeper, Sunningdale Golf Club
  • Stephen Davey, head greenkeeper, Queenwood Golf Club
  • Michael Gibbons, course manager, Disley Golf Club
  • James Hampson, deputy head greenkeeper, Llanymynech Golf Club
  • Stuart Imeson, owner and course manager, Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course
  • Fraser Jardine, deputy head greenkeeper, Trump Turnberry
  • Richard Ponsford, course manager, Clevedon Golf Club
  • Luke Sheldon, head greenkeeper, Beau Desert Golf Club
  • Richard Stephens, course manager, Vicars Cross Golf Club

Head to the BIGGA website to find out more about each of the delegates.

Michael Gibbons is course manager at Disley Golf Club. Reacting to being selected, he said: “Having spoken to numerous former delegates, it’s clear the BIGGA Delegation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Being able to soak up all the US has to offer is an incredible personal opportunity but it could also be career-defining. The learning and networking opportunities will be second to none and I hope to get all that I can out of the experience. I feel incredibly fortunate to be one of the greenkeepers picked for it and cannot wait to get going in January.”

Fraser Jardine is deputy head greenkeeper at Trump Turnberry. He spoke of his pride at being selected as part of the team representing UK greenkeeping on a global scale and added: “I can’t wait to get over to Phoenix to meet people in the industry from around the world. I’m looking forward to learning about new technology and sharing ideas and techniques with others that I can bring back home with me. Thanks to BIGGA and Bernhard and Company for such an incredible, prestigious opportunity.”

The GCSAA Conference and Trade Show runs from 29 January to 1 February 2024. As part of their duties, the delegates will attend the BIGGA stand during the conference, speaking to visitors about the association and UK greenkeeping.

For more information about the exclusive career development opportunities available to BIGGA members, head to the BIGGA website.

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total-play’s ‘game-changing’ new Cricket Shield system

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total-play’s ‘game-changing’ new Cricket Shield system: More cricket clubs and schools could reap the benefit of year-round, all-weather coaching thanks to an exciting new innovation from the cricket pitch experts at total-play Ltd.

One of the first non-turf cricket pitch suppliers to win England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) code of practice status, total-play has developed no less than six ECB approved non-turf pitch system designs over the years; installing artificial match pitches and state of the art training facilities at hundreds of sites nationwide.

total-play’s ‘game-changing’ new Cricket Shield system

total-play’s ‘game-changing’ new Cricket Shield system

The new ‘Cricket Shield’ system has again been developed in partnership with the ECB; effectively providing a ‘cricket dome’ that can be erected over new or existing cricket practice net facilities to effectively create an indoor practice facility at a fraction of the cost. The first installation of this exciting new system launched on Friday, 20th October at Bradford Park Avenue cricket ground as part of a pioneering £1.5m community inclusion project funded by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in partnership with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

The new, ten-lane facility features two 40mx20m covered domes with a state-of-the-art lighting system, elite cricket surface and a retractable netting system allowing for both training and matchplay. MD at total-play, David Bates says:

“I have been in discussion with the ECB for three years about ways to boost participation, particularly in urban centres. Indoor cricket facilities are prohibitively expensive – anything upwards of £5 million pounds – so the idea of converting outdoor nets to be suitable for all-weather use was an attractive one. Bradford Park Avenue was the perfect pilot site for the new system – the existing nets we installed 7 years ago were seeing huge use from across the community.

“The new facility will be a real game-changer and will increase capacity by offering a weather-proof centre for nets at all times of the year. It’s been amazing to work on this project alongside the other stakeholders and see vision become reality. We hope all the teams and groups who use the Bradford Park Avenue nets thoroughly enjoy their new facility, and look forward to rolling out Cricket Shield to other sites and help other clubs and schools reap the benefits.”

While the Bradford Park Avenue development is on a huge scale, Cricket Shield is scalable; with bespoke systems designed to meet individual clients’ needs and can be installed alongside as part of the development of completely new facilities of retro-fitted to existing natural or artificial surfaces. David says:

“With the inaugural installation now under our belts we look forward to seeing the Bradford Park Avenue system start to be used by the community and to starting work on more Cricket Shield projects in 2024, alongside some great straight practice facility and match pitch installations that are already in the pipeline. It looks set to be another busy year!”

For more details, head to www.total-play.co.uk or email info@total-play.co.uk

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Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices

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Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices: A 39-strong group of John Deere apprentices are starting the next stage of their careers having qualified as service and parts technicians working in dealerships across the UK.

The talented cohort’s achievements were recognised at a graduation ceremony in Nottingham on Friday night (20 October) at a dinner attended by their friends, family and mentors who have been at their side throughout the course.

Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices

Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices

It was also an evening of celebration for 17 Master Technicians – individuals who have achieved the top-tier service technician qualification – who received their prizes at the event.

John Deere Branch Training Manager Allan Cochran said: “Our industry-leading apprenticeship programme has been running for more than 30 years and has trained well over 1,100 talented individuals who have gone on to have exciting careers across the John Deere dealership network.

“Graduation ceremonies are always special, and this was no exception. To be able to celebrate the fantastic achievements of those in the room was hugely rewarding for John Deere as a company, as well for the dealers who have helped nurture this talented group to reach its potential.

“We wish the graduates all the best as they embark on the next stage of their careers within the John Deere family, and look forward to working alongside them long into the future.”

It was an extra special night for two technicians who won overall awards. Samuel Crichton from Tuckwell’s Framfield depot in Sussex was named Technician Apprentice of the Year, while Kael Horton from Thomas Sherriff’s Hexham depot in Northumberland was presented with the Parts Apprentice of the Year award.

Oliver Coupland from the Retford Ripon Farm Services depot in South Yorkshire, and James Hancock from Smallridge Bros’ Barnstaple depot were both named as runners-up.

Among the Master Technician graduates, Craig Braithwaite was singled out for his outstanding effort in becoming the first person to complete an apprenticeship and Master Technician assessment in just four years.

The individual prizes were presented to the winners by Will Young – best known as Farmer Will on TikTok – who addressed the room on life as an influencer creating content on a farm.

During the evening, presenters acknowledged that many of the class of 2023 had taken on apprenticeships during one of the most challenging times in the programme’s history.

For many, the covid lockdown took effect just six months into their studies, meaning distanced learning replaced what had been intended as classroom sessions.

“The apprentices coped admirably with the challenge laid down to them,” Allan said. “Being able to adapt to new and changing surroundings and issues is part of being a technician, but this group of young people did themselves proud in the face of adversity.”

It was also the first graduation for apprentices from the Wirtgen Group; a construction machinery manufacturer which was purchased by John Deere in 2017.

John Deere’s apprenticeship programme is provided by ProVQ and involves students being trained in engineering, electronics, hydraulics, diagnostics, communication skills, computing, sales, and marketing.

Ag Tech and Turf Tech candidates study towards the land-based service engineering technician qualification (level 3), while in Parts Tech individuals complete a retailer apprenticeship standard (level 2).

New students are enrolled each year, and the standard programmes include on-the-job training and assessment as well as up to eight weeks each year at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre.

To find out more about starting a John Deere apprenticeship, or to apply for open positions, go to dealerjobs.deere.com.

2023 Apprentice Graduates:

Ben Burgess: Benjamin Cox, Honor Miles, Callum Clarke, Ethan Langley.

Cornthwaite Group: Benjamin Glover, Kyle Wells, Graeme Riddick, Alfie Thompson, Thomas Howard.

Farol: William Duggins, Daniel O’Donohue, Makayla Wench, Andrew Gray, Luke Hand, Joseph Scott.

Geary’s Garage: Patrick Cremin.

John Deere Forestry: Sean Cochrane, Jamie Duncan.

MacGregor Industrial Supplies: Duncan Fraser-Anderson.

Masons Kings: William Chaffe.

Ripon Farm Services: Liam Dunn, Oliver Coupland.

Smallridge Bros: James Hancock.

Stephen W Moore: Reuben Bingham, Dominic O’Kane.

Tallis Amos: Michael Cock, Ellis Morris, Ben Vose, Lewis Gutteridge,

Thomas Sherriff: Cameron Marshall, Fraser Robertson, Conall Fairbairn, Jamie Clyne, Kael Horton.

Tuckwells: William Coleman, Sam Crichton.

Wirtgen Group: Thomas Holt, Jack Anderson, Stan Smith.

2023 Master Technician Graduates:

Ben Burgess: Cameron Smith, Lewis Jaggard, Callum Luker, Jonathan Smith.

Cornthwaite Group: Craig Braithwaite, James Sudell, Ed Crocker, Matthew Higgins.

Farol: Iain MacKinnon, James O’Neill, Jamie Speir, Lawrence Thompson, Matthew Welbourne, Alistair Donaldson.

Ripon Farm Services: Andrew Smith.

Tuckwells: Oscar Mayhew, Oliver Rumsey.

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Toro taking care at Bathgate

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Toro taking care at Bathgate: Bathgate Golf Club in West Lothian has taken delivery of a new Toro Groundsmaster 4300 rotary mower for the roughs and a used-certified Toro Workman GTX electric machine from distributor Reesink to aid the smooth running of the course.

The Toro Workman GTX machine brings electric power to the club in the most sustainable of ways having had a life before Bathgate at another club.

Toro taking care at Bathgate

Toro taking care at Bathgate

Found through Reesink’s ReeOwn scheme, which sees clubs able to access the best used Toro machinery available in the UK, it has been through a multipoint check by trained technicians at Reesink Scotland and came with a comprehensive 12-month warranty.

Head greenkeeper Peter Smith says: “The machine had very few hours on it and had been thoroughly checked over by the Reesink team so what we got felt like new really. It was an incredibly reasonable purchase and more economical than buying a new diesel/petrol machine.

“As with any utility vehicle, its primary job is to make life easy around the course, aid its smooth running, and it does just that, equal to or exceeding its diesel/petrol counterpart.”

Coinciding with the Workman, was the arrival of a Toro Groundsmaster 4300 rotary rough mower. Cutting the rough grass at Bathgate Golf Club can be challenging as the total area comprise the largest span of turf to maintain and typically house the areas with the most obstructions such as trees, bushes and bunkers etc. so there’s some work to be put in especially when being used daily like as is the case here.

Peter articulates that the Toro Groundsmaster 4300 has been delivering on all fronts: “This machine has been going out daily since it arrived in June and we’re really impressed with the quality of cut, the finish it leaves behind and the speed with which it gets the job done”.

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Husqvarna introduced power ascender

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Husqvarna introduced power ascender: Husqvarna, a global leader in outdoor power products, is proud to unveil its latest breakthrough for tree professionals: Husqvarna Power Ascender. This revolutionary battery lift is set to transform the way arborists get to work up in the trees. The new product made possible through a strategic partnership with Skylotec, a pioneer in innovative climbing solutions for professionals.

Designed with precision and efficiency in mind, Husqvarna Power Ascender empowers professionals to effortlessly ascend into the treetops, streamlining the process and allowing them to get to work fast. With its unique compact size and capacity, arborists can now reach their work areas with ease and without delay.

Husqvarna introduced power ascender

Husqvarna introduced power ascender

Director of Product Management Chainsaws at Husqvarna, Johan Hallendorff said: ‘We are thrilled to introduce the Husqvarna Power Ascender – a game-changing lift that will revolutionize how arborists approach their work and to an attractive price point. Its innovative design and seamless operation will significantly enhance efficiency in canopy projects.

The new battery lift uses Husqvarna’s powerful and proven BLi-X battery system which means users can use the same Husqvarna battery system with other existing products from Husqvarna. This provides a hassle-free experience for arborists, ensuring they can focus on their tasks without worrying about power supply. Husqvarna is committed to advancing the arborist industry through cutting-edge technology, and the Husqvarna Power Ascender is a testament to that dedication.

CEO at Rinklake, Dr Kai Rinklake, said: “The collaboration together with Husqvarna marks a milestone in our joint ambition to make the workday even better for arborists around the globe.”

Husqvarna Power Ascender will be available at selected partners for purchase early 2024.

For more information about Husqvarna Power Ascender and Husqvarna’s range of specialized arborist equipment, please visit https://www.husqvarna.com/uk/industries-and-solutions/tree-care-professionals/.

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